Poll shows more Americans are worried about economy as election approaches.

Americans are increasingly worried about the state of the economy, with a recent Gallup poll revealing that 17% of respondents consider it the top issue facing the country. This concern has been steadily rising over the past few months, starting at 12% in January and February, increasing to 14% in March, and reaching a recent high of 17% in April.

This growing unease about the economy comes just months before the upcoming November presidential election, where economic performance is expected to be a significant factor in determining the outcome of the rematch between President Biden and former President Trump.

President Biden has been highlighting signs of economic recovery, such as low unemployment rates and faster-than-expected GDP growth. However, despite these positive indicators, the recent Gallup poll follows a CBS/YouGov survey that showed voters in crucial battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania are still deeply concerned about the economy.

Combining inflation and other related factors, a total of 36% of Americans view the economy as their top concern, according to Gallup’s findings.

On the other hand, immigration remains a significant issue for Americans, with 27% of respondents rating it as the country’s top problem. This marks the third consecutive month that immigration has topped the list of concerns, even as the number of illegal border crossings at the southern border with Mexico has decreased in recent months.

Despite the drop in border crossings from historical highs in December, when over 300,000 migrants attempted to enter the country, the number has since decreased to around 130,000 in April. This sustained focus on immigration as a top concern is a notable trend, with Gallup highlighting that this issue has topped its survey on four previous occasions since 2000.

Gallup’s data also reveals a political divide when it comes to the perception of immigration as a primary issue. Republicans are significantly more likely than Democrats to view immigration as the top problem, with 48% of Republicans, 8% of Democrats, and 25% of independents sharing this sentiment in the latest poll.

Another key issue on the minds of Americans is the government itself, with 20% of survey respondents identifying it as the top problem in the country.

The Gallup poll surveyed 1,001 adults across all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia from April 1 to 22, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

As the country navigates these challenges, it is apparent that both the economy and immigration will continue to be critical topics of discussion and debate leading up to the presidential election and beyond.