Inflation, economy top Americans' list of concerns: Gallup

NEW YORK -- High inflation and the state of the economy remain at the top of the list of Americans' biggest concerns, The Hill reported recently.

Citing a new Gallup poll, the Hill said Thursday that at least 60 percent of respondents said they have "a great deal" of concern about inflation and the economy. The percentage increased by 2 points for both categories from a poll taken last year.

Pollsters found a majority also said they are worried a great deal about crime and violence, the availability and affordability of health care as well as federal spending and the budget deficit. The percentage greatly concerned about drug use saw the biggest increase from last year, rising eight points, from 38 percent to 46 percent.

Despite concerns about the economy in general, unemployment was at the bottom of the list of 15 key topics polled by Gallup, with 32 percent of respondents saying they were greatly worried about joblessness.

Gallup has tracked concerns about the economy since 2001. The highest percentage said they were greatly concerned about the economy in 2011 and 2012, with 71 percent saying they were, while the lowest percentage was 33 percent in 2019 and 2020, mostly before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the report.