Voters sour on Trump’s handling of inflation and grocery prices — FT poll

{"text":[[{"start":10.1,"text":"Donald Trump’s approval ratings on US inflation and the economy slid sharply in May, according to a new FT poll that shows voters souring on his handling of living costs pushed higher by the Iran war."}],[{"start":22.1,"text":"The nationwide poll, conducted last week by Focaldata, found 68 per cent of registered voters disapproved of the US president’s handling of inflation and the cost of living, up 10 points from April. "}],[{"start":35,"text":"About two-thirds of voters blamed the president’s policies for an increase in grocery prices. "}],[{"start":41.4,"text":"Among Republican voters, roughly 43 per cent said they disapproved of Trump’s handling of inflation and the cost of living, compared with 26 per cent a month earlier."}],[{"start":52.25,"text":"The findings come just five months before November’s midterm elections, when control of Congress will be up for grabs. Republicans are trying to hold on to both the House of Representatives and the Senate."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":65.95,"text":"However, the latest poll showed that when voters were asked which party they would back in the coming elections, Democrats enjoyed just a four-point advantage over Republicans. Support for Trump among Republicans remains strong."}],[{"start":79.75,"text":"The latest FT poll suggests voters are tiring of Trump’s management of the economy and especially the “bread and butter” issues that helped return him to office. Trump vowed on the campaign trail in 2024 to slash the cost of everyday goods, including fuel and food."}],[{"start":97.55,"text":"Food prices rose sharply in April, the latest month for which official data is available, as higher fuel costs drove up the cost of truck transport. The cost of buying food at the grocery store was up 2.9 per cent year on year, its fastest rate of inflation since 2023. Fruit and vegetables were 6.1 per cent higher."}],[{"start":118.1,"text":"Asked last week by pollsters what difference, if any, Trump’s policies have had on grocery costs — a top concern for most voters — 67 per cent blamed him for higher prices. That included 53 per cent of Republicans. Less than 8 per cent of voters said the president had brought down prices."}],[{"start":136.75,"text":"Inflation data for May will be released on Wednesday. Economists polled by Bloomberg expect year-on-year price growth to jump to a fresh three-year high of 4.2 per cent."}],[{"start":149.05,"text":"The poll underscores the challenges Trump and his Republican Party will face in the elections in November that will be seen as a referendum on his performance in the Oval Office."}],[{"start":160.10000000000002,"text":"Trump has vowed to usher in a new “golden age” of prosperity for Americans. But his second term in office has so far been marked by domestic tumult over his heavy-handed immigration crackdown, a divisive tariff regime that pushed up consumer prices, and overseas conflicts, including the Iran war."}],[{"start":179.90000000000003,"text":"Almost two-thirds of voters, or roughly 64 per cent, told pollsters in the latest survey that the US economy was going in the wrong direction, compared with about 26 per cent who said it was on the right track. That compared with 29 per cent who felt positive about the economy the previous month."}],[{"start":197.80000000000004,"text":"US employment has risen sharply recently, with average monthly gains of 188,000 jobs over the past three months, up from a sluggish 10,000 in 2025. "}],[{"start":209.55000000000004,"text":"But wage growth has slowed, increasing by 3.4 per cent in May versus a year earlier. That leaves it below the latest inflation reading of 3.8 per cent, suggesting that, in real terms, wages are shrinking."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":223.15000000000003,"text":"The Iran war — now in its fourth month — has added to the economic strains. Despite a fragile ceasefire, the conflict has largely shut the Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices sharply higher. "}],[{"start":236.20000000000005,"text":"US petrol and diesel prices have risen sharply since the conflict began, driving up motoring costs and spilling into other parts of the economy."}],[{"start":244.25000000000006,"text":"According to Brown University, US consumers have spent an additional $54bn on fuel since the war started, or more than $400 per household."}],[{"start":254.35000000000005,"text":"Treasury secretary Scott Bessent told Congress earlier this week that the inflation triggered by the war would be a “short-term blip”. Trump has said fuel prices will fall sharply when the conflict ends."}],[{"start":267.15000000000003,"text":"More than half of registered voters — almost 57 per cent — said in the latest FT poll that they disapproved of the president’s handling of the war, three percentage points more than in April. Among Republicans, roughly 29 per cent said they disapproved of the conflict, up nine points."}],[{"start":285.75000000000006,"text":"However, the latest FT poll offered some signs of electoral strength for Trump and the Republicans. This month’s four-point lead for Democrats was down from eight points last month. A RealClearPolitics average gives Democrats a lead of just under seven points."}],[{"start":301.3500000000001,"text":"Despite voters’ declining approval of Trump’s handling of the economy in the past month, overall support for the president remained essentially unchanged."}],[{"start":309.75000000000006,"text":"“President Trump has always been clear about temporary disruptions as a result of Iran’s attempts to subvert the free flow of energy,” said White House spokesman Kush Desai."}],[{"start":319.50000000000006,"text":"“The administration has never lost focus, however, on implementing the president’s proven economic agenda on the home front. As these policies continue taking effect, and as the Iranian terror threat is neutralised, Americans will again see cooling inflation, gas prices at multiyear lows and accelerated economic growth.”"}],[{"start":338.55000000000007,"text":"The FT poll was conducted online by Focaldata, a London-based, non-partisan research company, from May 29 to June 1. It reflects the opinions of 1,537 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points."}],[{"start":356.55000000000007,"text":"Additional reporting by Myles McCormick in Washington"}],[{"start":368.8500000000001,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1780888691_4972.mp3"}