Affordability crisis grips Canada and U.S. as polls show overwhelming public distress over rising prices
By isabelle // 2025-12-18
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  • A new poll shows most Canadians feel the current cost of living is the worst they've ever experienced.
  • Food prices are the primary and most universal source of financial stress.
  • Housing costs are the second biggest concern, especially for younger Canadians.
  • An identical affordability crisis is gripping voters in the United States.
  • This economic anxiety is now the dominant political issue across North America.
A profound economic anxiety is tightening its grip across North America, with a new poll revealing that the vast majority of Canadians are experiencing a cost-of-living crisis unlike any they have known. The data paints a picture of a population under severe financial strain, where rising prices for essentials are reshaping daily life and political priorities. This isn't just a Canadian phenomenon; it mirrors a parallel affordability emergency unfolding in the United States, where voters are expressing nearly identical frustrations, signaling a continental economic discontent that politicians are struggling to address. According to an Abacus Data poll, a staggering 67 percent of Canadians say the cost of living in their area is the worst they can ever remember it being. Another 21 percent report it is bad, although they recall tougher times. Only 11 percent believe it is not a significant issue. David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, noted this intensity surpasses feelings in the U.S., where a recent poll found 46 percent of Americans say costs are the most challenging they've experienced. "This is not a marginal concern or a background anxiety," Coletto stated. "It is a dominant lived experience." The political implications are immediate. Sixty-two percent of Canadians identified the cost of living as one of their top three federal priorities, far outpacing health care and economic growth. This concern is the top issue in every region of the country, acting as a universal lens through which government performance is judged. The issue is particularly acute in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, the poll found.

Food prices dominate daily stress

When Canadians detail their pressures, grocery bills stand paramount. A remarkable 81 percent cited food prices as a major contributor to the rising cost of living. "Food prices are the most universal and emotionally resonant cost because they are unavoidable and visible every week," Coletto explained. The concern escalates with age, affecting 93 percent of those 60 and older. This public sentiment is backed by hard data from Statistics Canada, which reported food prices at stores rose 4.7 percent year-over-year in November, the fastest pace in two years. Housing expenses are the second most-frequent concern, cited by 50 percent overall. Here, a generational divide is clear. "Six in 10 Canadians under 30 cite housing as a major pressure, compared with fewer than four in 10 among those aged 60 and over," Coletto said. While other costs like utilities, transportation, and insurance add to the burden, food and housing form the core of the crisis.

A mirrored crisis south of the border

This crisis is not contained by the 49th parallel. In the United States, millions are grappling with the same relentless squeeze, and the political fallout is significant. Economic worries were the dominant concern for voters in recent U.S. elections, where Democrats scored wins with a message focused squarely on affordability. President Donald Trump, who once claimed "our groceries are way down," has been forced to confront the issue, partially backtracking on some tariffs and floating ideas like a $2,000 dividend for Americans. Polls show deep public disapproval, with a Marquette University survey finding 72 percent disapproved of Trump’s handling of inflation and the cost of living. The challenge for any leader is the visceral, personal nature of price increases. As Joanne Hsu, director of the University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers, noted, consumers "are continuing to be very frustrated by these high prices. They feel like those high prices are eroding their living standard, and they just don’t feel like they’re thriving at the end of the day." This reality is difficult for political messaging to overcome, a lesson the Biden administration learned previously when touting strong economic growth failed to resonate with voters feeling pinched at the checkout line. Ultimately, the polls from both nations reveal a shared economic experience of erosion. It is a crisis measured in weekly grocery trips, monthly rent payments, and the fading possibility of financial breathing room. For governments in Ottawa and Washington, these numbers are more than statistics; they are a loud and clear warning that for most citizens, the economy is not working. The affordability crisis has become the central fact of daily life, and until that changes, political turmoil will likely follow. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com Finance.Yahoo.com TheGuardian.com
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