Two newly released polls paint a stark picture of the rising concerns from North Carolinians around the U.S. economy and Trump’s tariffs.
The polls, conducted by the Center for North Carolina Politics & Public Service at Catawba College and a separate poll by High Point University, found that North Carolinians are worried about inflation and the effects of Trump’s tariffs on their wallets.
The Catawba polls found that 63% of respondents said prices are higher than a year ago, and 54% said that they were having trouble affording “their regular monthly expenses” as a result.
According to Cardinal & Pine, the concerns were greater in rural North Carolina communities, where 60% of respondents reported trouble affording expenses and 64% of respondents said they were “cutting back on their regular purchases” in response to rising costs.
In the High Point University survey, over 1,000 North Carolina adults were asked whether they approved or disapproved of how Trump has handled several key issues. A majority of respondents disapproved of Trump’s effort in key economic issues, including his tariff policies, inflation, taxes, and “the economy in general.”
When specifically asked about the rising cost of daily expenses, a majority of respondents noted that the cost of meat, electricity, eggs, vegetables, and clothes has drastically increased.
Earlier this month, a group of advocates and North Carolinians gathered outside the North Carolina General Assembly to urge lawmakers to address the rising cost of living.
“Food insecurity is at its all-time high, and that affects our elderly, our children, all demographics, from rural to urban, everywhere,” stated Leslie Johnson of the Word of God Fellowship Outreach Food Pantry, during the press conference.
“This is not a Democratic or a Republican issue. This is a United States of America and a North Carolina issue,” stated Johnson. “Let’s get this taken care of to support our state.”
View more information about the polls at Cardinal & Pine.
