WASHINGTON – Eighteen percent of U.S. adults in May named the economy in general as the most important problem facing the U.S., a slightly higher percentage than the 17% who mentioned the economy as the chief problem the prior three months, according to a new Gallup Poll. Mentions of the economy have increased slightly this year compared with last year, the company said.
According to Gallup, Americans in May continue to cite a wide variety of issues when asked to name the most important problem facing the U.S., including dissatisfaction with government (13%) and unemployment (9%). Americans also list immigration (7%), race relations (5%), the federal budget deficit (5%), and elections and election reform (5%).
Although the percentage of Americans mentioning each of these problems has varied slightly from month to month, the basic pattern of concerns has remained similar since February, Gallup said.
Many issues atop the list have ebbed slightly in prominence by one or two percentage points over the past month or so, and mentions of healthcare (4%) have fallen four points since March. But the economy in general has remained the problem mentioned most often for four consecutive months.
The percentages of independents (16%) and Democrats (11%) naming the economy in general as the country's top problem have not changed much in recent months, while the percentage of Republicans mentioning the issue has increased sharply.
Since March, an average of 27% of Republicans have said the economy is the top problem facing the country, up from an average of 13% from December to February. Republicans' greater concern about this issue could reflect GOP presidential candidates' views on economic problems in the current presidential election, Gallup reported.