Trump’s Cost-of-Living Approval Falls to 17% as Gas Prices Rise Ahead of Midterms

The cost of living has emerged as one of the most difficult political challenges facing President Donald Trump as Americans continue to grapple with expensive food, fuel, housing and other everyday necessities.

A new Associated Press-NORC poll released October 1 shows just 17% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, while 26% approve of his management of the economy overall. The figures represent a new low for his economic ratings and arrive only weeks before the 2026 midterm elections.

The significance of the numbers goes beyond a conventional approval-rating decline. Cost-of-living pressures are experienced directly by households, making them particularly difficult for politicians to address through messaging alone.

When gasoline becomes more expensive, families see the impact immediately at the pump. Higher transportation costs can then feed into the prices of groceries and other goods, increasing the sense that household budgets are being squeezed from several directions at once.

Gasoline prices have become especially important. The continuing conflict involving Iran has contributed to energy-market uncertainty and higher fuel costs, adding another layer of pressure to consumers already concerned about inflation.

The political difficulty for the administration is that international developments and domestic policy decisions can overlap in determining prices. Nevertheless, the AP-NORC poll found that 65% of Americans said Trump’s policies were responsible for higher-than-usual prices.

While Republicans were considerably more likely to attribute inflation to factors beyond the president’s control. The disagreement over responsibility illustrates the challenge confronting the White House.

Economic conditions are shaped by numerous forces, including global energy markets, trade policy, supply chains, interest rates and geopolitical events. Yet voters experience these forces through household expenses.

The distinction between what a president directly controls and what voters believe a president should control can therefore become politically important. The Iran conflict has complicated the administration’s economic message.

AP-NORC found that 71% of adults disapproved of Trump’s handling of Iran. As attention from Washington remains focused on the conflict and its consequences, economic concerns have continued to dominate many household conversations.

For Republicans preparing for the midterms, the timing is particularly significant. The elections are scheduled for November 3, leaving roughly a month for candidates to respond to voter concerns.

Reuters has reported that some Republican candidates are attempting to distinguish themselves from Trump as concerns about prices and the Iran conflict grow. The political problem is not necessarily limited to Trump’s overall approval rating.

Republican candidates must decide how closely to associate themselves with the president while explaining their own economic priorities to voters. For incumbents, this can mean defending the administration’s policies while acknowledging frustrations over prices.

The central question is how effectively they can connect national economic concerns with local issues. Trump himself has acknowledged that his administration has struggled to communicate its economic record.

Reuters reported that he said in September that he had done a poor job explaining his economic achievements. The latest polling demonstrates how strongly economic perceptions can shape political debate.

Americans may disagree over why prices remain high, but the concern itself is widespread. With only 17% approving of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, the administration faces a clear challenge in convincing households that economic policy is improving their daily financial circumstances.

As the midterms approach, gasoline prices, inflation and household affordability are likely to remain central issues for both parties.