A new Spectrum News/IPSOS poll found inflation is the biggest concern for registered voters in North Carolina, followed by affordable housing. 

Inflation hit a 40-year high in the United States last month, with the consumer price index jumping 8.5% in March over a year ago. Prices continued to increase for gasoline, rent and food.

The new poll found 65% of registered voters in North Carolina have had to cut back on spending due to rising prices. 

What You Need To Know

  • A new Spectrum News/IPSOS poll found the top issue for North Carolina voters is inflation and rising prices, followed by affordable housing, crime or violence, and education

  • The poll, released Monday, surveyed more than 1,100 registered voters in North Carolina and has a margin of error of 4.2%

  • Spectrum News 1 will be diving into issues in the poll all week, on television and on the Spectrum News 1 app and website

  • Read the full results from the Spectrum News/IPSOS poll here 

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have visited North Carolina in recent weeks, and both have talked about rising prices for Americans. The federal government’s role in inflation will be a big topic for debate this year as candidates vie for North Carolina’s open seat in the U.S. Senate and 14 seats in the House. 

The new poll shows inflation has replaced the COVID-19 pandemic as the main problem facing North Carolina. A majority of voters, 54%, said rising costs is the biggest issue, followed by affordable housing, which was cited by 30% of registered voters. 

Just 10% of registered voters still said COVID-19 was the biggest problem facing North Carolina, when given a list of 15 issues to choose from in the poll. 

The poll, released Monday, surveyed 1,158 registered voters in North Carolina between March 31 and April 12. It has a margin of error of 4.2%. It included questions about the economy, the coronavirus pandemic, the war in Ukraine, education and inflation.

Both Democrats and Republicans cited inflation as their main concern, but Republicans are more focused on inflation rather than other issues. Two-thirds of Republicans said inflation is the biggest problem facing North Carolina, compared to 44% of Democrats.

When asked what the top priorities should be for North Carolina’s next senator, 42% said rising prices. Poll respondents were asked to name up to two issues they hope the state’s next senator should address in Washington D.C.

The United States economy came in second with 19%, followed by health care, education and jobs. Just 11% said election integrity, and the same number said voting rights, which had been hot-button issues, at least for elected officials in Congress.

With most attention on inflation and increasing prices, 82% of respondents in the poll said they are spending more on gasoline than before. 

The poll found people are preparing for prices at the pump to stay high, with 35% saying they expect prices to keep rising. Another 31% said they think prices will stay about where they are. 

A minority of registered voters in the poll, 22%, said they thought prices would decrease back to where they were before the war began in Ukraine. 

When asked about how their spending habits have changed, 73% say they are spending more on groceries than before. On housing, where prices take longer to increase, 38% said they are spending more and 49% said spending had stayed about the same. 

With rising prices on everyday goods, many people have opted to cut back on things like vacations and entertainment. In the poll, 29% said they were spending less on entertainment, like going to the movies and concerts, and taking vacations. Twenty-eight percent said they were spending about the same amount, and 22% said they were spending more. 

When asked who or what was to blame for rising prices, the results were mixed. For gasoline prices, 34% said President Biden was responsible and 30% cited the war in Ukraine. 

For rising prices for prescription drugs, 32% blamed businesses and corporations, while another 19% blamed the president. 

On food prices, 41% blamed “supply chain issues,” and 24% said Biden was responsible. 

For rising housing costs, 22% faulted businesses and corporations, 21% said the president was most to blame, and 15% said the COVID-19 pandemic was responsible. 

Inflation shows no signs of letting up. If prices continue to rise through the summer, inflation could be a key issue in the midterm elections in November. 

The poll shows the attention of registered voters in North Carolina has shifted from COVID-19 to inflation, housing prices and other domestic economic issues. The question for voters will be which party and which candidates do they think can help bring inflation down and continue to rebuild the economy after the pandemic.