Fourth Stimulus Check Update: New Payments Being Considered As More Americans Support New Aid

With persistent inflation still refusing to subside and make things easier on the wallets of American families, many are renewing the calls for more stimulus checks in an effort to try and get some assistance as they combat rising prices. However, despite a wish for more funds, some are continuing to caution against more government spending, warning that it won't solve the problem, but continue to make it worse.

A new poll this week from Newsweek found that 63% of Americans feel the federal government should issue new stimulus checks to help those struggling because of inflation. Of that number, 42% felt strongly about it. The poll surveyed 1,500 eligible voters and was conducted between Oct. 23 and 24.

However, the results of the poll were quickly panned online, as the number trended on social media with many lamenting that it was clear that those who felt checks would help didn't understand how the economy worked—meaning that checks were part of what led to the problems Americans are facing now in the first place.

A study from September also showed that many Americans felt the government was to blame for inflation because of spending (like on stimulus checks), though it also found many respondents who were eager to see another round of checks. In that survey, which was conducted in September by Pollfish, 75% of respondents supported the idea of another round of checks going out.

The demand isn't new, but experts have consistently warned in the past that another round of stimulus checks would make inflation worse, making them pointless in the long run. As for how they would make things worse, extra money in the pockets of many Americans would stimulate spending, increasing demand for goods and services which are still facing supply chain issues, and therefore, raising prices again.

"Stimulus checks would increase demand," Jason Furman, an economics professor at Harvard and former chair of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, told Forbes in July. "At the moment, however, supply is very constrained so any additional demand would just result in higher prices."

Higher prices have been plaguing Americans for months, and there has been little relief. In September, both the Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index grew 0.4%, with sharp increases in the price of several staple items that consumers purchase among their groceries. Meanwhile, gas prices have started to creep up again as well, with AAA reporting a national average price of $3.79 a gallon Saturday, which is up from a week prior. The price is still lower than the $3.83 average a month ago and when prices hit their peak in June with a national average of $5.01 per gallon. Still, the average is sitting at a price that is $0.37 higher per gallon than it was a year ago.

While the federal government doesn't appear to be considering sending out any more stimulus checks though, several states have continued to do so and may continue to do so in the future.

Among states where some form of stimulus check or tax rebate has gone out have been Virginia, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Massachusetts and Minnesota.