Americans are predicting that inflationary pressures will continue to build up steam, while about half are claiming financial hardships because of the rise in prices, indicating a morose economic outlook at least for the next six months. Based on a recent Gallup poll, nearly eight in 10 Americans believe inflation will keep on increasing with half expecting the rate to “go up a lot.” Almost 10 percent equally expect inflation to go down or remain the same. Seventy-eight percent of people surveyed anticipate interest rates to go up, 46 percent are optimistic about the stock markets, and 43 percent expect unemployment to go down during the next six months. There were almost an equal number of takers on whether the economic growth will increase or decrease. Gallup surveys have always had Americans predicting higher inflation, but the current expectation is the highest ever measured. The previous high was back in …