What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending April 9, 2011
It’s the economy, stupid. Remember that one? It was the political mantra that propelled Bill Clinton into the White House. President Obama would do well to remember it now that he’s declared his candidacy for a second term.
Concern about inflation is increasing, as Americans say overwhelmingly that they are now paying more for groceries and expect to pay even more for them in the future. Eighty-seven percent (87%) say they are paying more for groceries now than they were a year ago. That’s up 12 points from last April. Looking forward, 77% think they will be paying more for groceries a year from now, well above the range over the past two years.
Rising gas prices, driven in part by the spreading political unrest in the Arab world, are adding to Americans’ concerns about inflation. Yet while most Americans agree with the president’s recent statement about the need to limit U.S. dependence on foreign oil, 60% think it’s unlikely America will reduce that dependence as much as the president would like. One-in-two Americans are ready to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to lessen the country’s dependence on foreign oil, a move the president opposes.
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