Poll: Economic Woes Drive Voter Frustration, Favor Democrats on Inflation

Voters are increasingly frustrated by economic conditions, with roughly three-quarters rating them negatively over the past year, according to a Fox News poll released Wednesday. More than three times as many voters report falling behind financially as getting ahead.

Inflation and the cost of living are top concerns, with 62% calling grocery prices a major problem and 61% saying the same for gas prices. Healthcare costs (52%) and housing costs (54%) are also significant worries for majorities of voters. These figures represent an increase in concern for gas prices since two years ago and a slight decrease in concern for grocery and housing costs.

Views on tariffs have also soured, with 64% now saying they hurt the U.S. economy, up from 57% last summer. While most Democrats and independents agree tariffs are detrimental, Republican opinions are more divided.

Overall economic pessimism is high, with 68% of voters believing life will be worse for the next generation, a figure that has steadily increased over the past two years. Only 8% express enthusiasm about the government's performance, and a substantial 33% are "angry" about it, with this anger particularly pronounced among Democrats and independents.

Despite these economic challenges, the Democratic Party holds a narrow advantage on the generic congressional ballot, leading by 7 points (51% to 44%). This lead is consistent with trends observed since January. Women, voters under 35, Hispanic voters, and college-educated white voters are key demographics favoring Democrats, while white men and non-college-educated white voters lean Republican.

Party loyalty is slightly stronger among Democrats, with 97% supporting their party's candidate compared to 92% of Republicans. Independents favor the Democratic candidate by a significant margin (53% to 31%). Higher engagement among Democrats, with 64% extremely interested in the election compared to 53% of Republicans, further bolsters their position. Among voters certain to vote, the Democratic lead expands to 11 points.

On specific issues, voters trust Democrats more on inflation by a 15-point margin. They also hold an advantage on AI data centers, corruption, and foreign policy. Republicans maintain a slight edge only on immigration.

Former President Trump's job approval stands at 39%, with 61% disapproving. His approval ratings on inflation (24%) and foreign policy (37%) are near record lows. Trump's favorability rating is also negative, with 62% unfavorable views compared to 38% favorable.

Furthermore, 51% of voters say a Trump endorsement makes them less likely to support a candidate, a 26-point gap. However, within the Republican party, his approval does boost support among 52% of Republicans and 75% of MAGA Republicans.

Both major parties face negative favorability ratings, with the Democratic Party underwater by 11 points and the Republican Party by 17 points. Dissatisfaction with capitalism has also grown, with 57% believing the system in the U.S. does not offer a fair shot, an increase across all political affiliations.

The poll, conducted September 11-14, 2026, surveyed 1,211 registered voters nationwide. The margin of sampling error for the full sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points.