Americans are experiencing significant financial strain across nearly every major spending category, according to a new national survey conducted by Public First and published by Politico. The findings highlight mounting affordability challenges that are affecting health care decisions, travel plans, and day-to-day budgeting.
Nearly 50% of respondents said they find groceries, utilities, health care, housing, and transportation difficult to afford. Groceries were the top concern, with 50% saying buying food is hard. Fifty-five percent blamed the Trump administration for high grocery costs, including 22% of Trump voters.
Housing followed closely as one of the most difficult expenses to manage. Young adults and Hispanic respondents were the groups most likely to report that homebuying and rent costs are unaffordable. Even among Republicans, views varied — 10% of MAGA Republicans said the administration is responsible for high housing costs, compared with 31% of non-MAGA Republicans.
Health care affordability remains a major point of pressure. Nearly half of adults surveyed said it is difficult to afford coverage. Twenty-seven percent said they skipped a medical check-up in the past two years due to cost, while 23% said they had skipped doses of prescribed medication. The poll also showed a political divide: 42% of respondents said they trust Democrats more to lower health care costs, while 33% trust Republicans. Among Republicans, 84% of MAGA identifiers trust their own party on this issue, compared with 49% of non-MAGA Republicans.
Affordability pressures are also reshaping discretionary spending. Thirty-seven percent of Americans said they cannot afford to attend a professional sporting event with friends or family. Forty-six percent said they cannot afford a vacation involving air travel.
The survey additionally highlighted skepticism toward the administration’s economic policies. Only 36% of Trump voters said tariffs may hurt the economy now but benefit it later, and just 22% said tariffs are helping both in the short and long term. Even among MAGA voters, opinions were mixed: 27% said tariffs are boosting the economy now and in the long term, while 21% said tariffs are hurting it in both timeframes.
Views on higher education costs were similarly negative. Sixty-two percent of Americans said college is not worth the price. More than half of respondents with a college degree agreed that higher education either costs too much or does not deliver sufficient value.
