As the United States enters a new political era, a majority of Americans continue to view economic issues—including inflation, health care costs, and the federal deficit—as the country’s most pressing problems, according to a Pew Research Center survey released this week.
The poll, conducted from January 27 to February 2, found that 63% of Americans consider inflation a “very big problem,” making it one of the nation’s top concerns. Meanwhile, 67% cited the affordability of health care as a major issue, marking a 10-point increase from last year. Worries about the federal budget deficit also rose, with 57% of respondents describing it as a serious national challenge.
While economic worries dominated, other major concerns included violent crime (63%), gun violence (57%), and the number of Americans living in poverty (53%). However, unemployment remained a lower concern, with only about a quarter of respondents seeing it as a significant issue.
The findings also revealed deep partisan divides in how Americans perceive national challenges. While Republicans ranked illegal immigration (73%) and inflation (73%) as their top concerns, Democrats were most worried about money in politics (78%), health care costs (73%), and gun violence (69%). Climate change, which 67% of Democrats called a very big problem, was seen as a major issue by only 13% of Republicans.
Despite differences in priorities, the survey found bipartisan agreement on some issues, including the growing cost of health care. However, Americans remain divided on key social and political issues, reflecting the broader challenges facing the nation’s leadership in addressing public concerns.
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