Poll Finds Rising Grocery Prices Are Top Financial Concern for Americans

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A new national poll reveals that a majority of U.S. adults consider rising grocery costs their most pressing financial worry, with food expenses surpassing concerns about housing, medical bills, and debt.

According to the latest AP-NORC survey, more than half of respondents say the price of groceries is a “major” stressor, while an additional third call it a “minor” concern. The findings cut across age, gender, and income lines, but lower-income households, women, and Hispanic adults are among those most affected.

To cope with these increasing costs, Americans are adjusting their behavior. About 14 percent report using “Buy Now, Pay Later” services, such as Klarna or Afterpay, to manage grocery bills, a trend especially common among younger adults. 

Despite past campaign promises to curb inflation, including those from Donald Trump, most respondents remain skeptical that government leaders can bring down everyday prices. In a related survey conducted earlier this year, only two in ten Americans said they were “very” or “extremely” confident that the administration could lower the cost of essential items like food, housing, or healthcare within the first year of Trump’s return to office.

Concerns also extend to trade policy. While tariffs are often framed as tools to support domestic industry, a majority of respondents view them as contributing to the current inflationary pressure.

The polling data reflects how persistent price increases are reshaping household habits. Many shoppers are rationing food purchases, delaying larger expenses, and avoiding impulse buys. Financial stress tied to groceries is now driving broader changes in consumption and savings behavior across the country.

As policymakers debate possible solutions, the findings underscore the everyday economic burden Americans face at the checkout line. While inflation has eased in some sectors, food remains a daily reminder of how far price relief has yet to go for many families.