AP Poll: Americans Expect Price Hikes From Trump’s Tariffs/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A new AP-NORC poll shows most Americans expect higher prices from Trump’s tariff policy. Many fear the U.S. is heading toward a recession under his economic leadership. While support for tariffs has dipped, the public remains divided on Trump’s trade approach.
Trump’s Tariffs Stir Recession Fears — Quick Looks
- Majority Expect Price Increases: 80% believe Trump’s tariffs will drive prices up.
- Public Divided on Trade Policy: Only 40% approve of Trump’s handling of the economy.
- Poll Highlights Growing Anxiety: More than half of Americans fear a looming recession.
- Grocery Prices a Top Concern: 6 in 10 are very concerned about food costs.
- Young Voters Shift Opinion: Under-30 adults increasingly oppose tariffs.
- Tariff Pause Draws Criticism: Even supporters question Trump’s 90-day trade freeze.
Most Americans Expect Price Hikes Under Trump’s Tariffs, AP Poll Finds
Deep Looks
WASHINGTON (April 24, 2025) — President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff strategy is triggering widespread concern among Americans, with a new AP-NORC poll showing that the majority believe his trade policies will lead to higher prices and potentially push the country toward recession.
According to the survey, about half of U.S. adults say Trump’s tariffs will raise prices “a lot,” while 3 in 10 think prices could rise “somewhat.” Roughly 50% of Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about the U.S. sliding into a recession in the coming months.
Confidence in Trump’s Economic Agenda Slipping
Although Trump built his political brand around promises to bring down inflation and rebalance global trade, only 4 in 10 Americans now approve of his economic and trade leadership. That rating is largely unchanged from March but signals growing unease about the direction of the economy.
Matthew Wood, 41, of West Liberty, Kentucky, said he’s still waiting to see how the tariffs will play out but feels “anxious.”
“I don’t know how this is going to come to an end, especially with the big countries involved.”
Wood, once a Republican, now identifies as an independent, citing frustration with Trump’s close alignment with billionaire adviser Elon Musk.
Shifting Public Sentiment on Tariffs
Public opposition to tariffs is ticking up. 52% of Americans now oppose tariffs on all imported goods, compared to 46% in January. The increase is especially notable among young adults under 30, who previously had no strong opinion but are now more likely to view tariffs as harmful.
Still, some Trump supporters remain firmly behind him.
Janice Manis, 63, a retired sheriff’s deputy in Del Rio, Texas, criticized Trump not for imposing tariffs, but for briefly pausing them.
“I think he shouldn’t have suspended it,” she said. “If he kept all the tariffs in place, countries like China wouldn’t have had the opportunity to regroup.”
Concerns Spread as Trade War Escalates
With Trump now in his second term, his administration is taking aggressive action to reshape global trade. He has imposed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods, with 10% tariffs on products from dozens of other countries, including allies.
As a result, financial markets are increasingly volatile, consumer confidence is dropping, and interest rates on loans have ticked upward due to rising government bond yields.
6 in 10 Americans believe Trump has gone “too far” in pushing tariffs. Companies are responding by cutting back on spending, scrapping earnings forecasts, and even seeking tariff exemptions — including from nations as unlikely as penguin-inhabited territories.
Grocery Bills and Big Purchases Drive Concern
The public’s biggest fears lie in everyday costs. About 60% of respondents say they are “extremely” or “very” worried about the cost of groceries, while nearly half fear rising prices on big-ticket items like cars, appliances, and phones.
Nicole Jones, 32, a student in Englewood, Florida, said Trump’s trade policies are hurting average Americans.
“This whole tariff war is just a losing situation. It’s revenge — and everybody’s losing on it,” she said.
Jones, who voted for Kamala Harris, said she hadn’t thought much about tariffs until now. But rising prices, uncertainty over student aid, and the cost of living have become impossible to ignore.
“Things are just more expensive for us,” she added.
Mixed Views on Economic Outlook
Americans remain divided along party lines. Republicans, who viewed the economy negatively during President Joe Biden’s tenure, are now more optimistic. Democrats, on the other hand, have grown more pessimistic about the country’s financial trajectory.
“It wasn’t perfect, but we were doing fine,” Jones said of the pre-Trump economy. “Now, it feels like we’re spiraling.”
The Road Ahead
Despite uncertainty, Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent continue to frame the administration’s approach as bold and necessary.
Bessent recently said the U.S. must “restore equilibrium” in the global financial system and that “America First does not mean America alone.” But critics argue the current approach has already created chaos at home — and abroad.
With retirement savings, education costs, and everyday necessities on Americans’ minds, the real test for Trump will come in the months ahead — as economic anxiety deepens and the pressure to deliver results mounts.
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