Economic strain mounts ahead of midterm elections

People across the United States say they are facing rising costs for food, rent and gas as renewed tariffs take effect and energy prices spike amid the war with Iran, making economic concerns a key factor ahead of this fall's midterm elections, polls show.

Riche Jackson, 60, watches every cent he spends and admits that he chooses where to shop based on price. He is worried that tariffs are making things more expensive.

"Everything is more expensive. I have diabetes, so I have to choose what I eat carefully," he said. "I find food, stuff for the house, anything I buy costs more now than a few years back. The tariffs are making things cost more."

Ahead of the critical 2026 midterms, voters are worried about the cost of living and the economy, polls show.

More than half of registered voters said the economy and high prices will be "an important factor" in their vote for Congress this year, a Washington Post/Ipsos poll from July 16 found.

However, the public is split on which party has the best economic policies — 37 percent said the Democratic Party, and 36 percent said the Republicans, a Pew Research Center survey from July 23 found.

While voters will not cast a ballot on the presidency, the results are seen as a reflection of how things are going. At stake are 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 seats in the Senate, as well as elections for state and local races.

President Donald Trump has championed the strength of the US economy. "We had the single greatest year we've ever had as a country," he said on Monday at a General Motors test facility in Michigan. "In 18 months, we've turned this country completely around."

Democrats are drilling down on the message that his policies, especially tariffs, have made life increasingly unaffordable in the US.

Last week, the Trump administration announced that it will impose new Section 301 tariffs of 10 to 12.5 percent starting July 24 on more than 60 trade partners, over claims they have failed to enforce bans on goods produced using forced labor. The new tariffs began just as the temporary 10 percent tariffs enacted in February expired.

"The impact of the tariffs is very bad because it's increasing the crime," said Yusuf Scott, 43, from Brooklyn. "People steal, they're shoplifting because they can't afford some things."

The government needs to "do something about it", he said. "Talk to other countries. Lower them or get rid of them."

In June, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers fell 0.4 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.5 percent over the 12 months up to June, not seasonally adjusted, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics on July 17.

Housing increased 3.3 percent over the past year, statistics showed.

Scott added: "Rent is very expensive. And it's, like, $2,500 for a one-bedroom apartment here. In New York City, everything in the stores is expensive, so the cost of living is very high."

Another concern is rising gas prices amid the on-again-off-again conflict with Iran and impasse over the Strait of Hormuz. The average gas price in the US was $1.08 per liter on Tuesday, according to the American Automobile Association.