As the November midterm elections approach, many Americans are expressing frustration over rising living costs despite a growing economy and low unemployment rates. Individuals across income levels report that wage increases have failed to keep pace with inflation, complicating efforts to maintain their standard of living.

Leith Olson, a field service engineer from North Carolina, typifies the predicament faced by many middle-income households. His family’s annual income has remained near $150,000 in recent years, yet the cost of living has surged by nearly 30 percent. Olson said that despite steady employment, managing everyday expenses has become increasingly difficult. “We find ourselves having to say no to the kids more often than we used to,” he said.

Though the U.S. economy expanded and unemployment stayed just above 4 percent, workers nationwide have seen slow wage growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, total worker compensation, which includes wages and benefits, rose less than 1 percent since early 2025. In real terms, wage growth has dipped below inflation, eroding purchasing power.

This economic malaise is feeding into widespread voter dissatisfaction evident in polls and consumer sentiment measures. The experience reflects a broader shift caused by multiple factors over recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption of living patterns, changes in trade policies, government employment uncertainties triggered by federal reforms, and anxieties about automation and artificial intelligence’s impact on jobs.

In North Carolina—a state with an unemployment rate below the national average—55 percent of adults surveyed in April by Elon University said the economy had worsened during the previous administration. This dissatisfaction demands attention as Republicans aim to retain control of Congress, and Democrats see opportunities in key races, including a competitive U.S. Senate contest involving former Governor Roy Cooper.

The economic grievances precede recent energy price spikes. Data from the Commerce Department indicates that employee compensation as a share of gross domestic income is at its lowest since record-keeping began in 1947, declining from nearly 58 percent 25 years ago to 51 percent. Meanwhile, corporate profits have reached highs not seen since 1951. Some economists caution that tax law changes may partially exaggerate this shift, but the overall trend points to diminishing worker bargaining power amid global competition, automation, and weakened unions.

Consumer spending, accounting for roughly 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, has remained resilient in the face of economic headwinds, with retail sales rising 4.4 percent from February to April compared with the previous year. However, signs of strain are emerging. Americans have sharply reduced their savings since early 2025, and major retailers such as Walmart report customers are buying fewer items and purchasing less gasoline.

Locally, public employees like Willie Brown, a Durham municipal worker, and Charles Owens, a healthcare employee at a state-run hospital in Goldsboro, describe tightening budgets due to inflation and rising costs. Owens, a union leader and registered Republican, criticizes both parties for failing to address workers’ needs and supports increasing Democratic representation to act as a check on the current administration, though he remains skeptical of meaningful change.

Meanwhile, others, including Lauren Clark, a cafeteria worker in Morrisville caring for three children with limited childcare options, see hope in Democratic leadership but face daily economic and personal challenges. Clark highlighted the prohibitive cost of care for her special needs son, describing an exhausting routine balancing work and family responsibilities.

Olson, reflecting on his own political shift, said he has moved left of center as the Republican Party moved right, yet now feels disillusioned with centrist Democrats as well. “They’re not necessarily trying to work for the people,” he remarked. “It almost feels like they’re trying more to maintain the status quo, and it is becoming increasingly clear that the status quo is broken.”

With less than five months until the midterms, these personal struggles underscore the broader political and economic tensions shaping voter attitudes across the country.