US midterm voters show frustration over prices and Trump's performance

what happened

According to preliminary results of a national survey reported by The Wall Street Journal, US voters went to the polls in a gloomy mood ahead of the midterm election. The Voter Poll by SSRS, run for the Associated Press and major television networks, covered more than 79,000 registered voters. Democrats looked poised to win the House and had a real chance of taking the Senate.

Prices dominated the agenda. Roughly nine in ten respondents called living costs a key factor in their vote, and almost two-thirds said inflation rose mainly because of Trump's policies. About six in ten said the decision to take military action against Iran was wrong, a conflict that has already pushed up fuel and fertilizer prices. Nearly two-thirds said tariffs have harmed the economy.

Confidence in Congress and both parties remained low, and roughly seven in ten said Congress is not doing enough to check the president. Many voters, though, said their own finances were the same or better than two years ago.

why it matters

For markets, the poll shows that inflation and the cost of living are setting the political agenda ahead of a possible shift in the balance of power in Congress. Investors often watch such scenarios for their implications for trade policy, tariffs and the budget, but a single poll does not decide the outcome of an election.

market impact

US stocks and the dollar: political pressure over inflation and tariffs may shape expectations for future policy.

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