Economic Worries Continue To Dominate Voter Concerns as Midterms Loom: Polls

On the eve of the midterm elections, the cost of living and the economy remain top issues for voters, as data show higher prices are eroding their incomes.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that real wages fell about half a percent in September. The agency reported that wages rose only by 0.1 percent, while the consumer price index rose 0.6 percent.

The numbers for the last year, from September 2025 to September 2026, were somewhat better, but still suggested that the average family in America was not better off. The average household's income was nearly flat, with the BLS reporting that it fell by 0.1 percent in real dollars.

For the year, the inflation rate stands at about 3.7 percent.

The state of the economy, and the cost of living in particular, are central issues in the midterm elections. According to the Pew Research Center, 84 percent of voters said the economy was a very important issue heading into the election. The survey found that sentiment was consistent across party lines, with more than 80 percent of Democrats, Republicans, and independents citing it as a crucial issue.

As an issue, the economy is up five points in terms of importance to voters compared with what Pew found in the lead-up to the 2022 midterm elections.

Also, a recent Fox News poll had 60 percent of respondents saying that the cost of living was their top economic concern. In fact, the cost-of-living outpaced other economic worries by a wide margin: government spending (15 percent), jobs and income inequality (7 percent each), tariffs (6 percent), and taxes (5 percent).

Reuters noted that economic worries are of top concern to voters despite the economic picture being somewhat mixed. The wire service noted that the labor market has been very stable in the U.S. The September unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, and it has not been above 4.5 percent in the last five years.

The AI investment boom has driven significant gains in the stock market, as well as investment gains. Reuters noted that business investment rose at an annualized 12.7 percent pace last quarter.

However, for working families, factors such as elevated gas prices might be a more relevant gauge for the state of the economy, or at least how they feel about it.

The average price of a gallon of gas was $4.17 last week, about $1.13 more than it was at the same time a year ago. Diesel was at $6.29 a gallon, significantly more than a year ago when it was at $3.68.

Gas remains at an all-time high for October. Historically, gas prices fluctuate seasonally, rising in the summer and falling in the fall. This year, prices have remained elevated.