Americans are facing increasing cost-of-living pressures as inflation continues to outpace wage growth, making it the top concern for voters ahead of the midterm elections, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Al Jazeera reported that the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows the U-6 unemployment rate, which measures unemployment and underemployment, stands at 7.6%. Over the past year, average hourly earnings in the U.S. rose by 3%, but the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 3.7% during the same period, leading to a decline in purchasing power for many workers. Recent polls indicate that 47% of voters consider the cost of living to be the most important issue in the midterm elections.