THE PULSE: Tracking candidates and issues of Campaign 2008

by Joel Downey

Friday August 08, 2008, 4:41 PM

Click on image to download PDF.

Seems most everything cost more these days and, sometimes, by an appreciable amount.

That is putting a squeeze on many Americans as they try to make ends meet. 39% of Americans say the economy is the most important issue facing the nation.

This week's Pulse asked: How easy or difficult is it for you and your family to afford food, health care, saving for retirement, heating/electric bills and gasoline? The graphic has the answers.

Information for this graphic came from a Pew Research Center poll of 1,503 adults conducted nationwide July 23 -27. Margin of error plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Graphic by Ken Marshall | The Plain Dealer