The economy remains the primary issue for American voters ahead of the midterm elections, with rising gas and grocery prices making it harder to make ends meet. According to Napolitan News Service, 38% of voters rate the economy as poor, up three points from last week, while 40% say the economy is good. This is a significant increase from the previous year's election, when economic frustration played a significant role in Donald Trump's victory. However, this optimism was temporarily interrupted by a government shutdown in November and December that eroded confidence. Despite this, there is a 15-point gap between the two numbers, the worst since Trump’s election. The political challenge for Republicans is to address voters' concerns and restore confidence before the midterms.