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.
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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.
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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.
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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 financial situation was worsening was during the Great Recession.
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Financial Worries Remain Elevated
Americans’ concerns about specific aspects of their finances are generally steady compared with last year but elevated compared with 2021.
Majorities worry about not having enough money for retirement (62%) and being unable to cover medical costs in the event of a serious accident or illness (60%). Slightly smaller majorities (54% each) worry about their investment returns and maintaining their standard of living.
Nearly half are concerned about routine healthcare costs (48%), while 41% worry about paying their normal monthly bills and 40% about affording college. Fewer worry about housing costs (35%) or making minimum credit card payments (28%).
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While largely unchanged over the past year, these concerns had already increased between 2021 and 2025, spanning the rise of inflation levels, and they remain elevated today. The biggest increases since 2021 include an 11-point rise in worry about making minimum credit card payments and twin nine-point increases in concern about maintaining one’s standard of living and paying monthly bills. Concern about paying for a child’s education was flat between 2021 and 2025, with about a third worried, but has now increased to 40%.
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Bottom Line
Affordability continues to be the main financial challenge for U.S. households, with concerns about various costs far outpacing all other financial worries. Inflation rose steadily in 2021, from 1.4% in January to 7% by December, and peaked at 9.1% in June 2022. It has since retreated, registering under 3% for most months since early 2025. Yet it has not consistently returned to the sub–3% range typical of the decade before 2021 — something consumers may be anticipating. Combined with the lingering effects of sustained inflation during and after the pandemic, Americans’ financial perceptions and outlook remain cautious.
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Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works. View complete question responses and trends (PDF download).
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