What Is Driving Americans' Affordability Concerns?

A variety of surveys in recent months found that Americans across the political spectrum believe affordability is a problem in the US. What are Americans most concerned about, and how are politicians trying to change things?

An Affordability Crisis: The Hill (Center bias) cited a Harris Poll conducted for The Guardian (Left) which found that 95 percent of US adults believe the US is facing an affordability crisis. Another 57 percent of survey respondents said that the overall economy is getting worse, which is a 20% increase since before the US war in Iran began in February. A survey from the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation found that many Americans believe affordability is the "defining challenge" when it comes to economic mobility, according to CNBC (Lean Left).

Food Costs a Top Concern: Ninety percent of respondents to the McKinsey survey said that grocery and food prices are a "top concern," even over other expenses such as housing and healthcare. According to CNBC, the cost of food outside the home has increased 31% since 2021, and groceries for the home have increased 27%. CNBC also highlighted that 63.7 percent of American adults have paid for groceries with credit cards, with 28.7 percent only paying off the minimum monthly payment or less of their credit card bill at the end of the month. Additionally, one in 10 adults has used a "buy now, pay later" plan for groceries.

Republicans Debate Burritos: A Turning Point USA spokesperson posted on X about a college student's complaint about the price of food, sparking a debate amongst conservatives, according to Fox News (Right). Andrew Kolvet wrote, "One of our TPUSA college students gave me his take on affordability: 'A burrito shouldn't cost $20.' Yeah, a lot of this is a hangover from Covid and Biden-era inflation, but the lived experience is the same: It just feels like basic things cost too much." Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) responded, saying, "Stop whining, get a job, eat Ramen like the rest of us did in college, on a budget with 4 roommates. The market doesn't care what you think something 'should' cost." However, other conservatives pushed back, such as the Defense of Freedom Institute spokeswoman Angela Morabito, who said, "The comments saying stick to the dining hall or buy microwaveable burritos are missing the ENTIRE point. If the Right's 'solution' to the affordability crisis is telling people to eat worse food, we will lose, and we will deserve it."

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