How the public’s economic concerns have shifted in recent years
% who say they are very concerned about the following economic issues in the country today
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
How the public’s economic concerns have shifted in recent years
% who say they are very concerned about the following economic issues in the country today
| Date | Topic | Total | Rep/Lean Rep | Dem/Lean Dem | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-09-19 | People who want to work being unable to find jobs | 29 | 23 | 34 | 1 |
| 2022-07-04 | People who want to work being unable to find jobs | 27 | 26 | 28 | 1 |
| 2022-10-16 | People who want to work being unable to find jobs | 29 | 25 | 33 | 1 |
| 2023-01-24 | People who want to work being unable to find jobs | 30 | 25 | 34 | 1 |
| 2023-04-02 | People who want to work being unable to find jobs | 27 | 22 | 29 | 1 |
| 2024-01-21 | People who want to work being unable to find jobs | 31 | 30 | 32 | 1 |
| 2024-09-02 | People who want to work being unable to find jobs | 40 | 42 | 38 | 1 |
| 2025-04-13 | People who want to work being unable to find jobs | 41 | 28 | 54 | 1 |
| 2025-09-28 | People who want to work being unable to find jobs | 42 | 26 | 57 | 1 |
| 2026-01-26 | People who want to work being unable to find jobs | 45 | 32 | 59 | 1 |
| 2026-07-12 | People who want to work being unable to find jobs | 44 | 29 | 57 | 1 |
| 2026-10-04 | People who want to work being unable to find jobs | 48 | 34 | 59 | 1 |
| 2022-07-04 | Cost of housing | 60 | 59 | 61 | 2 |
| 2022-10-16 | Cost of housing | 60 | 57 | 62 | 2 |
| 2023-01-24 | Cost of housing | 60 | 55 | 65 | 2 |
| 2023-04-02 | Cost of housing | 61 | 58 | 64 | 2 |
| 2024-01-21 | Cost of housing | 64 | 63 | 66 | 2 |
| 2024-09-02 | Cost of housing | 69 | 72 | 66 | 2 |
| 2025-04-13 | Cost of housing | 61 | 51 | 71 | 2 |
| 2025-09-28 | Cost of housing | 61 | 51 | 71 | 2 |
| 2026-01-26 | Cost of housing | 62 | 54 | 71 | 2 |
| 2026-07-12 | Cost of housing | 64 | 52 | 73 | 2 |
| 2026-10-06 | Cost of housing | 66 | 53 | 76 | 2 |
| 2022-10-16 | Price of gasoline and energy | 69 | 80 | 58 | 3 |
| 2023-01-24 | Price of gasoline and energy | 60 | 72 | 48 | 3 |
| 2024-01-21 | Price of gasoline and energy | 51 | 64 | 40 | 3 |
| 2025-04-13 | Price of gasoline and energy | 46 | 40 | 51 | 3 |
| 2025-09-28 | Price of gasoline and energy | 45 | 36 | 53 | 3 |
| 2026-01-26 | Price of gasoline and energy | 43 | 40 | 47 | 3 |
| 2026-07-12 | Price of gasoline and energy | 60 | 49 | 68 | 3 |
| 2026-10-06 | Price of gasoline and energy | 74 | 65 | 81 | 3 |
| 2022-10-16 | Price of food and consumer goods | 73 | 81 | 66 | 4 |
| 2023-01-24 | Price of food and consumer goods | 75 | 81 | 69 | 4 |
| 2023-04-02 | Price of food and consumer goods | 72 | 78 | 66 | 4 |
| 2024-01-21 | Price of food and consumer goods | 72 | 82 | 63 | 4 |
| 2024-09-02 | Price of food and consumer goods | 74 | 85 | 64 | 4 |
| 2025-04-13 | Price of food and consumer goods | 67 | 57 | 78 | 4 |
| 2025-09-28 | Price of food and consumer goods | 65 | 52 | 77 | 4 |
| 2026-01-26 | Price of food and consumer goods | 66 | 55 | 75 | 4 |
| 2026-07-12 | Price of food and consumer goods | 66 | 55 | 75 | 4 |
| 2026-10-06 | Price of food and consumer goods | 73 | 62 | 82 | 4 |
| 2022-07-04 | How the stock market is doing | 31 | 41 | 23 | 5 |
| 2022-10-16 | How the stock market is doing | 32 | 43 | 24 | 5 |
| 2023-01-24 | How the stock market is doing | 26 | 34 | 20 | 5 |
| 2023-04-02 | How the stock market is doing | 24 | 31 | 18 | 5 |
| 2024-01-21 | How the stock market is doing | 18 | 23 | 14 | 5 |
| 2024-09-02 | How the stock market is doing | 24 | 31 | 17 | 5 |
| 2025-04-13 | How the stock market is doing | 36 | 24 | 49 | 5 |
| 2025-09-28 | How the stock market is doing | 19 | 15 | 23 | 5 |
| 2026-01-26 | How the stock market is doing | 20 | 20 | 22 | 5 |
| 2026-07-12 | How the stock market is doing | 18 | 18 | 17 | 5 |
| 2026-10-06 | How the stock market is doing | 21 | 19 | 22 | 5 |
| 2026-01-26 | Cost of healthcare | 71 | 61 | 82 | 6 |
| 2026-07-12 | Cost of healthcare | 69 | 58 | 78 | 6 |
| 2026-10-06 | Cost of healthcare | 69 | 57 | 80 | 6 |
| 2026-07-12 | Role of AI in the economy | 49 | 45 | 53 | 7 |
| 2026-10-06 | Role of AI in the economy | 50 | 42 | 57 | 7 |
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
