Poll: Most Americans Say Trump Has Raised Prices — Tariffs and Policy Choices Drive Frustration

A new national YouGov survey finds that Americans are roughly twice as likely to say President Trump has done more to raise prices (49%) than to lower them (24%) since returning to office in January. The poll, conducted Nov. 21–24, 2025, captures widespread economic dissatisfaction as many households feel the pinch of rising costs.

Key findings

Public sentiment: 72% of respondents rate the economy as only fair or poor, and 79% say they are paying more for the same goods and services than a few years ago. A majority disapprove of Mr. Trump’s overall job performance (56%) and disapprove specifically of his approach to the cost of living (63%).

Inflation outlook: Six in ten Americans (60%) say inflation is getting worse, while only 17% believe it is getting better. Among those who think inflation is worsening, seven in ten blame policies a president can control — an amount equivalent to 42% of all adults — up sharply from 33% in November 2022.

Tariffs and perceived costs

The survey highlights strong public skepticism about recent tariff policy. Respondents say the new import levies have pushed the U.S. average tariff rate to about 18% — the highest since 1934 — and independent estimates cited in the poll place the cost of those tariffs to U.S. households at roughly $1,600–$2,600 per year.

By a roughly two-to-one margin, more respondents view the tariffs as having a negative short-term effect on the economy (52%) than a positive one (26%). Two-thirds (66%) say the tariffs have increased what they pay for goods and services. When asked about removing some recent tariffs, 77% of Americans with an opinion approve of those removals; only 7% disapprove and 16% are unsure.

Reaction to policy proposals

Some of the administration’s affordability proposals draw mixed responses. Using tariff revenues to fund $2,000 rebate checks is the most popular single idea, with 58% of Americans supporting the proposal (68% of Republicans, 55% of Democrats, 52% of independents).

Other ideas fare poorly. A proposed 50-year mortgage — which would lower monthly payments but roughly double the total interest paid over the life of the loan — is opposed by 56% of respondents; only 19% favor it and just 8% say they would personally choose such a mortgage.

On health coverage, the poll shows clear support for extending existing ACA marketplace subsidies: when told those subsidies help roughly 20 million people and that letting them expire would raise premiums sharply, 55% said Congress should extend them and 23% said it should not. When offered a choice between extending subsidies or giving people a fixed sum to shop for insurance (a policy likely to result in less comprehensive coverage for many), 49% prefer extending subsidies versus 22% who favor a fixed-sum approach.

Support for rebate checks is conditional. When asked how tariff revenue should be used, only 41% prioritized direct checks; 27% picked paying down the national debt and 18% selected funding government programs. When reminded that tariffs cost households an estimated $1,600–$2,600 per year, Americans were nearly evenly split on whether to return that money via rebate checks (43%) or by removing the tariffs to lower prices (42%).

Context and comparisons

Although headline inflation has fallen from its COVID-era peak of near 9% to about 3% by the time the current president took office and remains close to that level today, many Americans see price pressures on everyday items — produce, coffee, clothing, housing and electricity. Public perceptions of who is responsible and whether the president is doing enough have shifted: 61% now say Trump is not doing enough on inflation (compared with 52% who said the same of President Biden three years ago), and 38% say Trump "deserves the most blame" for current inflation (versus 35% who said that about Biden three years earlier).

Survey methodology

The national survey interviewed 1,684 U.S. adults online from Nov. 21–24, 2025. The sample was weighted by gender, age, race, education, 2024 election turnout and presidential vote, party identification and current voter registration status. Demographic targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey; party identification was weighted to an estimated election-time distribution. Respondents were drawn from YouGov’s opt-in panel to be representative of U.S. adults. The margin of error is approximately ±3%.