Poll: Coloradans worried about economy, are spending less

Audio By Carbonatix

(The Center Square) – Coloradans are worried about the cost of living.

That’s according to a Colorado Polling Institute survey that was released Friday. The online poll of 622 likely 2026 voters was conducted by Aspect Strategic and New Bridge Strategy on Nov. 1-5 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.93%.

Three in five Colorado voters, or 61% of those surveyed, said they’ve had to cut back on spending for nonessential items this year, according to the institute. 

Meanwhile, 28% of Coloradans say they haven’t charged their spending habit, and 12% reported increasing spending on nonessentials.

The poll found 63% of Colorado voters see the rising cost of health insurance to be a major problem or crisis.

According to 72% of those polled, Congress should extend the enhanced tax credits for the Affordable Care Act.

“There is broad support in Colorado for extending the enhanced ACA tax credits, and you have to squint pretty hard to find a slice of the electorate who wants to see them expire,” said Kevin Ingham, principal of Aspect Strategic. “Voters with private and public health insurance, voters who feel financially comfortable and precarious, and voters in urban and rural areas all favor extending the tax credits by wide margins. Even among Republicans, we find a significant share want them extended, especially GOP women who favor the credits by a 16-point margin.”

Nearly half, 46%, said Colorado’s state budget has some problems, but not up to the level of a crisis, while 35% said the state has a budget crisis.

State direction was mixed, with 47% saying the state is headed in the right direction, and 44% saying it’s going the wrong way.