The claim is true because a June 2026 Gallup survey found that about 60% of Americans said high gasoline prices were causing them economic hardship or struggles.
True
More than 50% of Americans say there is economic hardship placed on them because of high gasoline prices
Using gasoline data to explain inelasticity : Beyond the Numbers : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Source: bls.gov
At a glance
Verified August 17, 2026Key Evidence
Gallup’s June 25, 2026 reporting indicates that approximately 60% of Americans said soaring gasoline prices were causing economic struggles, which directly exceeds 50%.
The same survey found substantial differences by income and reported that many adults had changed driving behavior because of gas prices.
Earlier Federal Reserve and BLS evidence supports the broader conclusion that higher gasoline costs can strain household budgets, but it is not the primary evidence for the specific percentage.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
The available evidence supports the claim within its apparent timeframe, namely the June 2026 survey period.
- Gallup reported on June 25, 2026, that roughly 60% of Americans viewed soaring gasoline prices as causing economic struggles. This is above the 50% threshold in the claim.
- Gallup’s results also showed that hardship varied by income. The survey found that 59% of adults earning at least $100,000 reported hardship, while the share was higher among lower-income adults. The survey further found that many Americans, especially lower-income adults, had reduced driving because of gas prices.
- Fox 11 Los Angeles and Fox 13 Seattle reported the same Gallup findings, including the approximately 60% overall figure. Fortune separately reported a March 2026 AAA survey showing that more than half of American drivers would change their behavior if gasoline prices exceeded $4 per gallon.
- Federal Reserve and Bureau of Labor Statistics materials provide broader context: gasoline price increases can force households to delay or reduce other purchases, and more than 90% of adults in the Federal Reserve’s 2022 survey said prices for gasoline and food had increased. However, those older sources do not directly establish the specific claim that more than half of Americans reported economic hardship because of gas prices.
The wording "economic hardship" is a reasonable summary of the Gallup reporting, although the source also uses the related phrase "economic struggles." The evidence establishes public perception and reported financial impact, not that gasoline prices alone caused all broader economic difficulties.
Primary trail
Verified Sources10
Open source