By Onyx Bugett | TalkLife News
Morning Report — October 1, 2026
WASHINGTON — Frustration over groceries, gasoline and other basic expenses is cutting across party lines weeks before the midterm elections, according to a new national survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Only 17% of U.S. adults said they approve of President Donald Trump’s handling of the cost of living. Approval of his overall economic performance stood at 26%, a new low in the poll.
Voters are assigning responsibility
The survey found that 65% of adults blame Trump’s policies more than outside factors for persistently high prices. About seven in ten said his performance on the cost of living has been worse than they expected.
The dissatisfaction extends into the president’s own party. About six in ten Republicans disapprove of his handling of living costs, up from roughly half in April. However, 67% of Republicans still say outside forces deserve more blame than Trump for current prices.
Concerns are intensely practical. About half of adults said they are extremely or very worried about affording gasoline, compared with 39% in July. A similar share expressed serious concern about paying for food.
Economic anxiety meets campaign politics
The findings arrive as Trump begins an aggressive campaign schedule to help Republican candidates retain control of Congress. The administration argues that its trade, energy and economic policies will strengthen the country over time. Critics point to tariffs and the war with Iran as major contributors to higher costs.
The survey also found weak approval for Trump’s handling of trade and Iran. At the same time, border security remains a relative strength, with about half of adults approving of his performance on that issue.
How to read the numbers responsibly
The AP-NORC poll surveyed 2,140 adults from September 24 through September 28 using NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel. The margin of sampling error for all adults was plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
A poll is a snapshot of public opinion, not an election result. It can show the direction and intensity of voter concern, but turnout, candidate quality, local issues and events during the final campaign weeks can change outcomes.
The poll also measures what people believe is causing high prices. It does not by itself prove the precise economic effect of any single policy. Fuel markets, tariffs, supply disruptions, interest rates and international conflict can all contribute.
Onyx’s perspective: Voters often hear the economy described through growth rates and market indexes. This poll shows that people are judging it at the grocery register and the gas pump. Any campaign asking for their vote will have to explain what relief looks like, how long it will take and who bears the cost in the meantime.
Source: Associated Press-NORC, October 1, 2026.
Image credit: Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee/U.S. Air Force via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. File photo from 2009.
