Majority of Americans say tariffs hurt their family’s financial situation, are spending more on groceries and utilities: Poll

A recent ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted using Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel revealed that a significant number of Americans are feeling the financial impact of rising inflation and tariffs. The poll found that a majority of Americans are spending more on groceries and utilities compared to last year, with about 7 in 10 reporting increased spending on groceries and 6 in 10 on utilities. Additionally, around 4 in 10 Americans said they are spending more on health care, housing, and gasoline.

The poll also highlighted the partisan divide in perceptions of financial strain, with majorities of Democrats, independents, and Republicans acknowledging increased spending on groceries. Democrats were more likely than independents or Republicans to report increased spending across all categories.

Women were also more likely than men to report higher spending in each category, indicating a gender disparity in the financial impact of inflation.

President Donald Trump’s use of tariffs was a key point of contention, with 65% of Americans expressing disapproval of his handling of tariffs. The poll revealed that a majority of Americans believe that tariffs have a negative impact on inflation, the U.S. economy, and the financial situations of American families. Democrats were more likely than independents or Republicans to perceive tariffs as harmful across various categories.

While a plurality of Republicans believed that tariffs benefit U.S. manufacturing companies and job seekers, they were divided on the impact of tariffs on their own financial situation. Independents expressed concerns about the negative effects of tariffs on inflation, the economy, and their own family’s financial situation.

The poll was conducted online among a random national sample of 2,725 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points. The results highlight the growing concerns among Americans about the impact of inflation and tariffs on their financial well-being.