In an NBC News focus group of young men leaning toward Trump, nearly all of the participants cited the economy and inflation as their top issue.

“You look at what our parents were able to buy for $10,000 back in the day,” said Derek, a focus group participant from Wisconsin who is leaning toward Trump. “I just went through trying to buy a house two years ago, and the struggles that you come through. You’ve got to be making $150,000 just to get your standard three-bed, two-bath house nowadays.”

At a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, Sam Lilly, an 18-year-old who is still in high school, said he is planning to vote for Trump in his first election as an eligible voter. He said one of the biggest financial concerns for him is the price of gas. Gas prices have been averaging $3.34 a gallon, down from their high of $5.00 a gallon in June 2022 and $3.96 a year ago. Prior to the pandemic, gas was averaging around $2.60 a gallon.

“Gas is so expensive, it’s ridiculous. I drive a truck, so I only get 16 miles per gallon,” said Lilly, who currently works at a restaurant and who would ultimately like to work in welding or as an auto mechanic. “I’ve got to drive from my house to a school that’s 20 minutes away to another school that’s 20 minutes away to work that’s 30 from that school. So I’m wasting a lot of gas.”