Affordability Still Dominates Americans' Financial Worries

Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share via Email Print Economy April 28, 2026 Affordability Still Dominates Americans' Financial Worries by Lydia Saad Story Highlights Inflation and high prices cited by 31% as top financial problem Energy concerns up 10 points to highest since 2008 Record 55% say their finances are getting worse WASHINGTON, D.C. — The high cost of living continues to top Americans’ list of the most important financial problems facing their families. The 31% citing it in an open-ended question is below the 41% peak in 2024 but similar to a year ago and among the highest in Gallup’s more than 20-year trend. Energy costs, which have risen notably this year, are mentioned by 13% of Americans, up 10 percentage points from last year and the highest since 2008 — tying housing costs as the second-biggest concern. Healthcare ranks fourth at 8%, consistent with readings since 2020. ###Embeddable### These findings are from Gallup’s annual Economy and Personal Finance survey, conducted April 1-15. Overall, affordability concerns dominate this year’s list, with combined mentions of inflation, energy, housing and healthcare costs — along with college expenses, transportation costs and childcare — far exceeding all other types of financial concerns. Certain economic conditions or programs are the next-most-cited type of issue Americans name. These include taxes (6%), the state of the economy (2%), the stock market (2%), interest rates (2%) and Social Security (1%). Insufficient income ranks as a close third category of concerns, including those citing lack of money or low wages (7%) and unemployment or job loss (4%). This is followed by those saying they have too much debt generally (6%) or on credit cards specifically (1%). The least-cited type of financial challenge involves lack of savings — either retirement savings (3%) or savings generally (2%). While affordability issues are usually the top category of responses, this is the fifth consecutive year that they have led by a wide margin. Supporting this finding, a recent Gallup Panel survey shows 55% of Americans reporting that recent price increases have been a hardship on their ability to maintain their standard of living, largely unchanged since 2023 after being lower in late 2021 and early 2022. ###Embeddable### Slump in Consumers’ Financial Outlook Persists With cost issues continuing to be top of mind, Americans’ overall assessments of their current financial situation are similar to what they have been each year since 2022. Less than half continue to rate their financial situation as “excellent” or “good” (currently 46%), and more than a third call it “only fair” (35%). Relatively few say their situation is “poor” (19%). The recent dip in people’s confidence about their finances contrasts with 2016 through 2021, when half or more typically rated their finances positively. Today’s readings are more in line with 2008-2015, although not quite as negative as the ones during and immediately after the Great Recession from 2009 to 2011, when about four in 10 were positive. ###Embeddable### Americans’ financial outlook in 2026 is also historically poor, with a record 55% now saying their financial situation is getting worse. While similar to last year’s 53%, this is up from 47% in 2024 and marks the fifth consecutive year more Americans say their finances are worsening rather than improving. The only similar multiyear period when the larger share felt their…

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