47% of Americans say groceries are harder to afford than they were last year

Nearly half of Americans say groceries have become harder to afford compared with a year ago, according to a Harris/Axios Vibes poll released Thursday.

The survey found that 47% of adults report that groceries are more difficult to afford now than they were a year ago. About 34% said prices feel roughly the same, while 19% said groceries are now easier to afford.

Majorities of Democrats (50%) and independents (54%) said food costs have become harder to manage. Among Republicans, views were more divided: 34% said groceries are harder to afford, 37% said they cost about the same as last year, and 28% said they’re easier to buy now.

When asked about the broader economy, 47% of respondents said President Trump’s administration has had a positive impact, while nearly 8 in 10 said Trump has “significant influence” over the economy.

“President Trump recognizes he inherited the worst inflation crisis in a generation from Joe Biden, and that’s why he has directed his administration to fix it,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios in a statement. “Grocery prices are coming down — for example, egg prices have dropped nearly 80 percent — but we know there’s still more work to do.”

Fewer than one-third of those surveyed said the president’s tariffs have benefited U.S. businesses, household finances, or the overall economy. Meanwhile, 63% said they’re concerned that import taxes could cause shortages of essential goods they rely on.