A trip to the grocery store and gas pump isn’t helping anyone’s blood pressure. Expenses are like that crazy driver in the high-speed lane who can’t slow down. Let’s start with gas, then a Wall Street Journal-NORC poll:
Massachusetts average gas prices
$4.96 Monday’s record high
$4.73 a week ago
$4.30 a month ago
$2.93 this time last year
Today’s economy
83% say it is “poor/not so good”
35% “not satisfied” with their financial situation
Buying a home
65% bad time
13% good time
Find a job
71% good time
10% bad time
Retirement
56% don’t have enough savings
Most worrisome expenses
63% gas
54% groceries
47% health care
42% housing
35% elder care
33% prescription drugs
18% child care
Chance at achieving American dream?
61% pessimistic
38% optimistic
American values
86% U.S. too divided
67% political system broken
Hope for future?
55% worse in 5 years
11% less divided
Social media
64% harmful
34% helps in communication
Vaccines in schools
78% yes on measles
76% yes on chicken pox
54% yes on COVID
Working remotely
80% satisfied
19% it stinks
60% back hybrid model longterm
U.S. Supreme Court
60% of rulings based on political opinions
33% constitution and law
Abortion
57% support
41% do not
Poll margin of error was 4% +/- in a random sampling of 1,071 adults from May 9 through May 17.
