The economy is on the ballot. 3 charts reveal the reality voters face as they head to the polls

Voters heading into the US midterm elections face rising everyday costs, higher fuel prices and expensive housing, putting Republican promises of affordability under scrutiny. The economic pressures matter as control of Congress hangs in the balance and voters consider President Donald Trump’s record and agenda.

Consumer prices rose 3.7% in the year to September, while a New York Federal Reserve study estimated tariffs added about 2.9 percentage points to prices for goods it examined. Diesel reached $6.53 a gallon in October, up from about $3.45 in early 2025, and September petrol prices rose 9.1%. The average 30-year mortgage rate was 7.24% on 29 October, and the median existing-home price was $417,500 in September; these figures show costs, but not who voters will blame.