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1. Heading into the November midterms, voters across political parties agree that inflation is the top priority, but other economic concerns are split more heavily.
With the midterm elections now just under three months away, CivicScience asked Americans about the issues most important to them heading into November. Honing in on economic issues, inflation ranks high overall and across all political affiliations, and clear party divides emerge on the remaining issues studied. Notably, Republicans are significantly more likely to prioritize taxes, whereas Democrats are far more concerned with income inequality.
2. Three-quarters of U.S. adults have long-distance friendships, creating a strong subset of travelers hitting the road to meet up.
Long-distance friendships are a staple of American social life, with 75% of U.S. adults reporting they have a close friend who lives far away. They are also important contributors to the economy and the travel industry. In fact, 51% of Americans with long-distance friendships say they either will travel to visit them (29%) or plan to travel to meet their friends somewhere (22%). Gen Z adults (34%) and Millennials (33%) are the most likely to travel to visit distant friends, and Gen Z stands out in planning joint trips to entirely new destinations (36%). Conversely, Baby Boomers are the least inclined to stay in touch, with 39% noting they have long-distance friends but don’t regularly meet or keep in touch.
Let Us Know: How important is it to you to maintain friendships with long-distance friends?
3. Social connection and the lure of the big screen drive Americans to movie theaters over streaming.
Moviegoing habits have largely stabilized since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 27% of U.S. adults visiting theaters several times a year and 13% attending monthly or more so far in 2026. When deciding whether to see a film in theaters rather than stream it, social connection and the screen experience remain the dominant drivers. Across all frequency groups, ‘going with friends or family’ and ‘wanting the big-screen experience’ are the top motivators. Frequent moviegoers (monthly+) are also uniquely driven by immediacy and premium formats, with 40% prioritizing seeing films as early as possible and 35% seeking out special setups like IMAX, 3D, or 4DX.
Take Our Poll: Do you typically go out to the movie theater more in the warmer months of the year or in the colder months?
