Focus Group Report: Soft Partisans and Independents on Inflation and the Economy
Wednesday, April 20, 2022Participants’ pervasive concerns about inflation overwhelm positive economic indicators, even as they are viewed as credible by most.
Our research below provides messaging guidance for progressives to win key policy debates.
Participants’ pervasive concerns about inflation overwhelm positive economic indicators, even as they are viewed as credible by most.
Nearly seven in ten Americans support Biden’s economic plan, while fewer than three in ten support Senator Rick Scott’s economic plan.
Canceling at least a portion of student loan debt improves the perception Biden is keeping his campaign promises.
Two in three Americans support Biden’s economic agenda and view each of eight possible provisions tested as helping mitigate rising costs.
If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, nearly three in five Americans would not trust the Court’s future decisions.
Cryptocurrency investors are more positive about the economy and their personal finances than the country overall.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans also support Biden’s economic agenda and an increasing share say the economy is creating more jobs, not fewer.
Most see indicators like the unemployment rate, the number of jobs created, and overall growth as credible indicators of a recovering economy.
Additionally, support for President Biden’s economic agenda continues to earn support from nearly two in three Americans.
These focus groups revealed a desire for President Biden to be out there more and being active, particularly on canceling student loan debt.
Americans increasingly trust Biden and Democrats on handling inflation and rising costs after reading proposals in Biden’s economic plan.
More than two thirds of Americans support President Biden’s plans to distribute testing and masks to American households.
By 20 points, the public agrees managing the pandemic through masks/tests/vaccines is key to prevent too many workers from getting sick.
Rising costs remain a top concern for Americans and pessimism about the economy remains very high, but intensity of concern is declining.
Progressive messaging that acknowledges the pain point of inflation when selling their economic agenda is more effective than not doing so.