9 Costs Hitting Americans Hardest

Americans may have jobs, but many say they're struggling to afford the basics. A new Harris Poll for the Guardian finds that a whopping 95% believe the country is in an "affordability crisis." Here are the nine categories cited by respondents as the most unaffordable:

• Gas, 52%
• Groceries, 51%
• Loan payments, 46%
• Utilities, 46%
• Debt payments, 45%
• Housing, 45%
• Car insurance, 45%
• Healthcare, 42%
• Health insurance, 41%

Other details:

• It's not a partisan concern: About half of Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike say it's a challenge to afford necessities.
• Most (57%) say the economy is getting worse. Only 16% say it's improving, down from 28% in February.
• Two-thirds say they have little faith the federal government will turn things around, a figure that includes 49% of Republicans.
• See more details about the poll, conducted from May 28 to June 6.