More than a third of Americans now believe inflation is a greater threat to their finances than losing their job. That 38% figure is the highest reading since March 2025, and it arrives at an awkward moment for anyone hoping the Federal Reserve would start easing monetary policy soon.
The concern isn’t abstract. May 2026 CPI came in at 4.2% year-over-year, up from 3.8% in April. That’s the sharpest annual increase in three years, with a monthly jump of 0.5%.
The numbers behind the anxiety
A Q2 2026 poll found that 52% of consumers cited rising prices as their top concern. That’s a 6-percentage-point jump from previous surveys.
Meanwhile, unemployment held steady at 4.3% in May. Surveys are starting to show slightly higher perceived job-loss probabilities.
