As President Donald Trump begins his second term, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that economic issues remain at the forefront of Americans’ concerns, with inflation, the affordability of health care, and the federal budget deficit ranking as top national problems.
The survey, conducted from Jan. 27 to Feb. 2 among 5,086 U.S. adults, highlights broad bipartisan concern over rising costs and economic instability. About 63% of Americans say inflation is a “very big” problem, while 67% say the same about health care affordability. The share of Americans worried about the federal deficit has also increased, rising to 57% from 53% last year.
Economy dominates national concerns
Despite some improvement from the 2022 inflation peak, when 70% of Americans cited it as a major issue, inflation remains a dominant concern. Additionally, 72% of respondents said the role of money in politics is a very big problem—the highest percentage recorded for any issue in the survey.
The survey also found a sharp increase in concern over health care costs, which jumped 10 percentage points from last year. The growing worry about the federal deficit, largely driven by rising Democratic concern, reflects broader anxieties about government spending.
Unemployment, however, remains a lower priority, with only 25% of Americans identifying it as a very big problem.
Political division and social issues remain contentious
Partisan divisions persist on key issues. While both Democrats and Republicans agree on the severity of problems like health care affordability, they sharply differ on issues such as illegal immigration and climate change.
Among Republicans, the top concerns are inflation (73%) and illegal immigration (73%). In contrast, Democrats rank the role of money in politics (78%), health care costs (73%), gun violence (69%), and climate change (67%) as their most pressing issues.
The divide is particularly evident in perceptions of climate change and racism. Only 13% of Republicans view climate change as a very big problem, compared to 67% of Democrats. Similarly, just 15% of Republicans see racism as a major issue, while 55% of Democrats say it is.
Another key area of disagreement is immigration. Nearly three-quarters of Republicans (73%) say illegal immigration is a major problem, compared to just 23% of Democrats.
Americans frustrated with government dysfunction
Beyond economic concerns, Americans express growing frustration with the country’s political system. The survey found that 56% believe the inability of Republicans and Democrats to work together is a very big problem. While this remains a top concern for Democrats (64%), fewer Republicans see it as a major issue than in previous years (48% now, down from 57% in 2024).
Similarly, 48% of Americans view the overall functioning of the U.S. political system as a very big problem. Concern over this issue has declined among Republicans, falling from 48% in 2019 to 40% today, while remaining steady among Democrats.
Worries about moral values and basic facts on the rise
The state of moral values in the country is another growing concern. The share of Democrats who see it as a very big problem has jumped from 32% last year to 51% today. At the same time, Republican concern about moral values has dropped from 61% to 48%.
Similarly, the percentage of Democrats worried about Americans’ level of agreement on basic facts has risen to 58%, while Republican concern has fallen to 32%.
Calls for action on pressing issues
While partisans disagree on many national issues, the findings suggest widespread demand for action on economic stability, political reform, and key social issues. With inflation and health care costs topping the list of concerns, policymakers may face mounting pressure to implement solutions that address affordability and economic security.
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