A new poll reveals that Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian adults are particularly anxious about inflation and the cost of living, even as economic stress affects many Americans. The survey, conducted in early December by AAPI Data and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, found that about half of AAPI adults want the government to prioritise addressing high costs and inflation. In contrast, only about one-third of all US adults rated these issues as top concerns in a separate December AP-NORC poll.
The findings suggest that this small but fast-growing demographic is not reassured by President Donald Trump's efforts to downplay inflation or his tariff policies. Across party lines, AAPI Democrats, independents, and even Republicans are more likely than their overall counterparts to cite inflation and costs as pressing issues. Concern has risen since last year, when around 40% of AAPI adults prioritised this area.
High living costs in states like California and New York, where many AAPI adults reside, partly explain the heightened anxiety. Tariffs also disproportionately affect AAPI communities, who favour imported ethnic groceries and goods. Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data, noted that last year some AAPI shoppers stockpiled items ahead of tariff increases, highlighting visible cost pressures.
Health care is another growing concern. About 44% of AAPI adults want the government to focus on health care in the coming year, similar to the overall US population. Jayakumar Natarajan, a 56-year-old tech manager in the San Francisco Bay Area, is reconsidering his retirement plans due to rising health care costs. Meanwhile, Kevin Tu, a 32-year-old Taiwanese American in Lynnwood, Washington, worries about balancing mortgage payments, day care, and living expenses after his first child arrives.
The poll is part of an ongoing project to capture the views of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, who are often underrepresented in surveys due to small sample sizes and language barriers. Black, Hispanic, and AAPI adults were more likely than white adults to cite unemployment, jobs, and housing costs as priorities.
