NC North Carolina News

A new national survey shows three in 10 voters believe President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress are doing enough to stop inflation.

The number differs, depending on how a person describes their political leanings, with only 22% of conservative voters, 23% of moderate voters, and 46% of self-described liberal voters checking the “yes” box to indicate he’s doing enough.

It carries a cost many Americans are feeling.

"President Biden’s inflation tax is costing the average household an extra $433 per month or $5,200 per year. #Bidenflation,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tweeted. 

The poll results were distributed by the Senate Opportunity Fund. The poll was conducted March 15-17, and surveyed 800 people across the country who said they would likely vote in the national election in November. 

Of the poll's respondents, a majority (61%) said the administration is not doing enough to stop inflation. Broken down by political leaning, 75% of self-described conservatives, 58% of those who call themselves moderates, and 39% of self-proclaimed liberals indicated more needs to be done.

A big part of inflation is the cost of gasoline. With overall annual inflation at nearly 8%, gasoline has gone up 38% during that time — making it nearly the largest increase in the consumer price index, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As gas prices continue to hover near record-high levels across the nation, the Gasoline Misery Index shows the average American is paying $704 more for gas than they did a year ago. In North Carolina, the increased burden is $851, the North Carolina Business Daily reported. 

Economists have told Fox Business that Biden’s spending plan could push inflation even higher. The spending plan is a likely contributor of Biden’s low polling numbers on the issue. 

A major component of Biden's spending plan includes a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that was passed by the Senate in March 2021. It was backed by Bobbie Richardson, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, who berated the state’s Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, for not supporting the plan.

“The reality is we still have more than $1 trillion of unspent funds from the previous COVID relief bills which is why I co-introduced a $650 billion COVID-19 relief plan as a substitute amendment that was blocked by Senate Democrats,” Tillis posted in explaining his “no" vote, Fox Business reported. In response, Richardson accused the senators of playing politics instead of helping North Carolina residents.