Story highlights
- Increased anxiety about drug use, social security, and medical care
- Few people worry about energy or the environment
- 6 in 10 people are concerned about inflation and the economy, highest among issues
WASHINGTON, DC — Of the 15 important issues facing this country, more Americans are worried about inflation and the economy than any other, with 6 in 10 saying they are “very” concerned about these issues. expressing concern.
Americans are about as concerned about inflation and the economy as they were a year ago, but now they’re more concerned about drug use, health care and Social Security. They are less likely to say they are concerned about energy and the environment.
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The results are based on Gallup’s annual environmental survey conducted March 1-23.
In addition to inflation and the economy, at least half of U.S. adults are also very concerned about health care (54%), crime and violence (54%), federal spending and deficits (52%), and hunger and homelessness ( 50%).
Moderate concerns (41% to 46% concerned) include drug use, Social Security, guns, energy, and illegal immigration.
Among the 15 issues, respondents are least concerned about unemployment, with 32% saying they are very concerned. The U.S. unemployment rate reached a 54-year low in January. Terrorism, race relations, and the environment are also areas of little interest to Americans.
More broadly, an average of 45% are very concerned about 12 issues that have been consistently measured since 2005 (these do not include federal spending, guns, or inflation). This is tied for the highest average anxiety level in 2011, but the range of this average has narrowed considerably over the past 18 years, from 38% to 45%.
Economic issues are often the biggest concern
Inflation and the economy will be the two biggest issues in both 2022 and 2023, as U.S. price increases reach levels not seen in 40 years. These are the only years that Gallup included inflation in its list.
Gallup has been tracking concerns about the economy since 2001, and concerns have changed in response to different economic conditions, and were very concerned in 2019 and 2020 (mainly before the coronavirus pandemic). It ranged from a low of 33% to a high of 71%. 2011 and 2012 (during high unemployment following the Great Recession and Washington’s debt ceiling crisis).
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The economy was also the top concern in each survey from 2008 to 2014, and health care was the top concern in 2016. When the economy is not the number one concern, health care has typically occupied the top spot. 2002-2007, 2015, 2017-2020. In 2001, crime was number one, and in 2021, hunger and homelessness were number one.
Back up drug use concerns
Americans are more concerned about drug use than they have been in the past three years (46% are very concerned). However, this is far less than in 2001, when 58% were concerned. Concerns about drug use fell a total of 9 percentage points between 2019 and 2022, but rose again this year to near 2019 levels. This increase is likely related to rising rates of opioid drug overdoses, especially among teenagers, many of which involve the drug fentanyl.
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Concern about drug use has increased over the past year among Republicans (up 10 points to 61%), Democrats (up 12 points to 34%) and Independents (up 6 points to 46%).
Social Security becomes more of a concern.
Similar to drug use, Americans’ anxiety about Social Security has eased in recent years, with only 38% of Americans worried about it in 2020. Last year, 40% were worried about Social Security; 45% are worried now. The issue gained further attention in President Joe Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address, when he implored Republicans to work to protect Social Security as they look for ways to cut federal spending.
The highest point for concern about Social Security was 53% in 2010.
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Although Republicans are less concerned about Social Security than they were a year ago, they still express more concern than Democrats (41%) or Independents (32%) (51% are very concerned). ). The latest numbers reflect a 9-point increase since 2022 for Democrats and a 7-point increase for independents.
From 2017 to 2020, when Donald Trump was president, Democrats were more concerned about Social Security (52% on average) and Republicans (36%) less worried, but under Biden That was reversed.
Anxiety about medical care also fell to 49%, the lowest trend last year, but increased by 5 points this year. This is still well below the high of 68% that was of great concern in 2006.
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Republicans (50%, up from 44%) and independents (53%, up from 45%) are more concerned about health care this year than a year ago, while Democrats (58%) are unchanged.
Energy concerns subside
Last year, when gas prices were rising rapidly before hitting record highs in June, 47% of Americans said they were very concerned about energy availability and affordability. was one point below the highest values ​​measured by Gallup in 2006 and 2012. This number represents a 10-point jump from 2021.
Gasoline prices are now on average about 80 cents cheaper per gallon than they were a year ago, and about $1.50 cheaper than their peak in June, easing concerns about energy. 41% of US adults have high anxiety about energy.
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Americans’ concerns about the quality of the environment have similarly declined, with the share concerned dropping by a significant 5 percentage points from 44% in 2022 to 39% this year.
44% of people who are concerned about the environment are on the high end of what Gallup has historically measured, with the highest score being 47% in 2017 and 2019. This year’s 39% concern rate is the lowest since 2015, when it was 34%. The lowest rate ever was 31% in 2014.
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conclusion
When there is an economic challenge, Americans usually worry more about it than about other issues facing the country. And that’s the case right now with rising inflation, rising interest rates, falling stock prices, and fears of a coming recession. Americans’ concern about the economy is higher than Gallup has measured in most previous years, but remains below post-Great Recession levels.
Americans are about as worried about the economy and inflation as they were a year ago, but now they’re more concerned about Social Security, drug use, and health care. On the other hand, they are less likely to worry about energy and the environment.
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