Fourth Stimulus Check Update: New Checks Going Out Despite Being 'Biggest Cause' Of Inflation

Americans are eager for any aid they can get from the government as they continue to battle sky-high inflation and rising prices. However, at the same time, some are also questioning if checks are part of the reason they are dealing with increased prices in the first place.

According to a September survey from Pollfish of 500 adults, 44% of Americans blamed government spending—which includes stimulus checks—for being the "biggest cause" of inflation, followed by corporate greed at 32% and supply chain issues at 23%. However, 75% also supported the idea of stimulus checks being given as a response to inflationary pressure.

The survey's findings come as many states have also started doling out checks to their residents, thanks in large part to a surplus in state budgets. California is one of the states sending out checks, with up to 23 million residents in the state expected to start receiving payments of as much as $1,050. These payments may have a modest impact on inflation but aren't expected to have the same effect that checks from a federal level have had.

While Americans may support receiving payments despite feeling they might cause higher inflation, they aren't the only ones who feel that the checks may be partly to blame for some of the pain they feel now. Experts have previously warned that checks do have a direct effect on inflation because more money on hand leads to more demand for goods and services that are in shorter supply—driving the costs up as a result.

Still, some do feel that checks can help, as direct aid in the hands of struggling Americans can also be a better way to soothe the pain of high prices than other suggested programs, such as tax cuts and gas tax holidays.

The conflicting feelings about checks come as food prices have soared over the last year, with data from August's Consumer Price Index seeing a price increase of 39.8% on eggs, while butter, flour and prepared flour mixes had increased more than 20% in price. Increases over 15% were also seen on roasted coffee, frankfurters, lunchmeat, fresh and frozen chicken parts, fresh milk other than whole, cereals and cereal products, white bread, sugar, rice, pasta, cornmeal, peanut butter, fruits and veggies, prepared salads and canned fruits and vegetables.

Gas prices are also on the rise after steadily decreasing over the summer after reaching record-high average prices of $5.01 a gallon for Regular Unleaded on June 14 and $5.81 a gallon for Diesel on June 19.

The current average for regular unleaded gas is $3.90 a gallon, according to AAA. This is up one cent from Friday, $0.09 from a week prior, $0.15 from a month ago and $0.64 from a year ago.