51% of Americans say economy is bigger concern than Russia-Ukraine conflict.
QUICK FACTS:
- More than half of Americans believe the country’s top priority should be fixing the economy rather than getting involved in the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
- 51% of Americans say the nation’s bigger priority should be limiting damage done to the U.S. economy.
- That’s compared to 45% of U.S. adults who say the bigger priority should be sanctioning Russia.
- In April, those numbers were reversed, while in March, shortly after Russia launched its “special operation” in Ukraine, a clear majority—55%—said the bigger priority should be sanctioning Russia.
- “Sometimes we get involved in things that we really shouldn’t, and it’s going to make things worse,” said Angelica Christensen (33) from Ithaca, New York. “We need to focus right now on building up our economy.”
- Still, most U.S. adults continue to say the U.S. should have at least a minor role in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Only 32% say the U.S. should have a major role in the conflict, while 49% say it should have a minor role.
- 54% of Americans disapprove of Biden’s handling of the U.S. relationship with Russia, while only 45% of Americans approve.
WHAT’S MAKING AMERICANS CHANGE THEIR MIND:
- Soaring costs for gas, groceries, and other commodities have strained budgets for millions of Americans and caused shifts in opinion.
- The financial toll suffered by Americans under the Biden administration likely lessens Americans’ willingness to support Ukraine financially, perhaps serving as a warning to Biden himself, who on Saturday approved an additional $40 billion in funding to Ukraine.
- Only 44% of Americans say they favor sending funds to Ukraine, while 32% are opposed and 23% have no strong opinion either way.
- The poll also showed just 21% of Americans say they have “a great deal of confidence” in Biden’s ability to handle the situation in Ukraine. 39% say they have some confidence and 39% say they have hardly any.
- “We’re killing ourselves,” said Jeanette Ellis-Carter, a retired accountant from Cincinnati, Ohio. “We can help other people, but in helping other people, we have to know how to help ourselves. And we’re not doing that.”
BACKGROUND:
- The AP-NORC poll conducted May 12-16 surveyed 1,172 adults.
- U.S. inflation recently hit a 40-year-high of 9%, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics, the highest level since 1982.
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently shared its latest data for the Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures the prices paid by wholesalers for their goods, showing that prices grew by 11% in the last year as of April.
- The national average for a gallon of gas was $4.56 as of Monday, according to AAA, more than $.40 higher than it was just a month ago. Motorists will be paying about $1.50 more per gallon of gas for the Memorial Day 2022 weekend, the highest they have ever paid.
- Joe Biden on Monday admitted that the U.S. economy has “problems” and that it will be “a haul” before Americans see relief from inflation and soaring prices.
