In the upcoming U.S. elections this November, voters believe former President Donald Trump would handle rising prices and cost of living issues better than current President Joe Biden.
In a poll released by NBC News on the 21st (local time), when asked which candidate would better handle inflation and cost of living issues, Trump led with 52% compared to Biden’s 30%.
In this survey, conducted among 1,000 registered voters from the 12th to the 16th, NBC reported that 23% consider inflation and the cost of living the most critical issues and believe Trump would handle them better than Biden.
As the U.S. consumer price index has been on the rise for three consecutive months, the possibility of the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates is decreasing, and the expected timing for unilateral action is being pushed back.
While prices are rising, President Biden, seeking re-election, highlights job, tariff, and tax issues.
Last week, he demonstrated a tough economic stance towards China by tripling the tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products in Pittsburgh, a U.S. steel city.
He has also consistently emphasized that the U.S. economy is currently the best in the world.
However, despite President Biden’s boast that the U.S. has the best economic growth rate and unemployment rate among developed countries, only 11% of respondents in this survey responded that jobs and the economy are the most urgent issues facing the U.S.
NBC News reported that many voters still remember the excellent economy during Trump’s presidency, which is a burden for Biden.
In this poll, Biden has narrowed the gap with Trump from 5% in January to 2%.
However, President Biden lags in battleground states, including his birthplace of Pennsylvania.
In a telephone poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) from March 17 to 24, targeting 4,200 people, 600 each in seven battleground states, Trump had a higher approval rating in six states.
WSJ, Fox Business Channel, and Sky News in the UK, among other foreign media, are paying close attention to Pennsylvania voters, considering it the most crucial battleground state.
Where shale oil is produced, Pennsylvania is seeing a decline in support for President Biden, who is critical of hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
Once home to many steel and other manufacturing workers, the number has significantly decreased, and the shale energy industry now provides high-paying jobs.
In the 2016 presidential election, Trump won in Pennsylvania by 0.72% against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, but in 2020, he lost to Biden by 1.2%.
