A recent research by The Wall Street Journal shows that non-white voters are the more likely to consider inflation (the highest in four decades) as the major factor in generating financial barriers in their lives. This theme appeared as an opportunity for Republicans to get closer and more support from the Latino and non-white population in this year's elections.

According to the newspaper, eight months before the tenure, 35% of black, Hispanic, and Asian American voters expressed the strain caused by the economic difficulties caused by the high inflation that plagues the country, compared to 28% of white voters responding. Black women and Hispanic men, both at 44%, had the highest proportions of reporting the greatest strain on the rising cost of living. Some poll participants said they blame President Biden for inflation over measures that have limited oil, gas, and pipeline drilling in the country.

People with lower incomes were more likely to respond with great concern to the financial challenges arising from inflation. Nearly 50% of those earning less than $60,000 annually reported great financial strain, while only 13% of those earning $150,000 or more reported the same.

“Rising energy, food and services prices pushed inflation to 7.9% last month compared with a year ago. The Consumer Price Index, which measures the cost of goods and services, hasn’t been this high since it reached 8.4% in January 1982”, according to “The Wall Street Journal’s publication.

The poll showed that 47% of respondents, overall, said they believed Republicans could better control inflation, compared with 30% who listed Democrats.

“Almost 9 in 10 Republican voters think the economy is headed in the wrong direction, compared with 36% percent of Democrats. Among independent voters — a key group in most close elections — 71% say the economy is going the wrong way. Hispanic voters are even more likely to feel that way, 78% express a negative view [and] said they would probably or definitely back a Republican candidate for Congress over a Democrat, 46% to 37%, a move from the Journal’s survey in November when the two parties were tied among the group”.

The inflation figures, according to the newspaper, help to explain why almost two-thirds of voters consider that the economy is not being well planned, even in the context of rising jobs and rising wages. In this context, more than a quarter of all voters (28%) responded that their household income has decreased over the past year, 26% said their income has increased, and for 39%, the cost of living has increased more than their income.

Inflation and the economy were the topics most often chosen by non-white voters (60%) as the most important issues, compared to white voters (47%). Inflation was also a more important issue for Republicans and independent voters, while Democratic voters were nearly split between inflation (43%) and the war between Russia and Ukraine (40%).

The rise in prices generated by inflation is jeopardizing Biden's approval with voters. According to the poll, 59% disapprove of the way he is dealing with the economy and 63% disapprove of the way he is dealing with inflation. 

“The Wall Street Journal poll was conducted by the firms Impact Research and Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, who surveyed 1,500 respondents, drawn from a list of known, registered voters, from March 2-7”, according to the publication.