'Hard to feel great about the economy': Americans blame Trump as cost of living surges

A new Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll shows that a majority of Americans say they are spending more on grocery and utility bills than they were a year ago, and they blame President Donald Trump for the rising prices.

The poll, conducted in late October, shows that 7 in 10 Americans say their grocery costs have risen in the past year, while about 6 in 10 say their utility costs have gone up.

About 4 in 10 say the same about health care, gas and housing, the Washington Post reports, adding that the results of the poll "reflect angst about the cost of living"

“Even as inflation has gone down, people are still struggling with very high price levels for food, energy and health care,” said Sophie Mitra, an economics professor at Fordham University. “The rate of increases has slowed, but things are still very difficult, especially for low- and middle-income households.”

Americans' discontent, the Post explains, reflects government data that shows inflation is slowly worsening.

Utility costs have jumped 12 percent in the past year, according to data from September, the Post explains.

Grocery prices have risen by 3 percent, "though some categories have recorded more dramatic increases. Meat prices, for example, have climbed more than 8 percent since last year, while canned fruits and vegetables are up 5 percent. Coffee has gone up by nearly 19 percent," they write.

The poll shows that "roughly 6 in 10 Americans blame Trump 'a great deal' or 'a good amount' for inflation and rising prices, with 66 percent of independents and 92 percent of Democrats blaming the president.

Just 20 percent of Republicans blame Trump, and "overall, Democrats were more than 30 percentage points likelier than Republicans to say they are spending more on a range of necessities, including gas, health care and housing," the Post explains.

“The house will just have to be cooler this winter,” said Pennsylvanian Vicki Sestok, who voted for former vice president Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential election. “We’re going to have to put on an extra sweater, and that’s going to be that.”

Economists warn that it could take months for the full effects of Trump's policies to show up, leaving many business owners and household on edge, the Post reports.

"House prices are still too expensive. It’s hard to feel great about the economy," said Arizona Trump voter Spencer Williamson.