Story Highlights
- 49% rate their current finances positively, down from 56% last year
- Record-high 50% believe their financial situation is getting worse
- Younger adults most affected by recent economic downturn
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Although Americans’ assessments of their current finances are not much lower than last year, 50% of Americans now say their financial situation is getting worse. This latest reading is, by one percentage point, the highest Gallup has measured in a trend stretching back two decades.
Unemployment has surged to the top of the list when Americans are asked to name the most important financial problem facing their family, and significantly more adults — particularly young adults — are worried now than were worried a year ago about being able to pay housing costs and other financial obligations.
These results are from Gallup’s annual Economy and Personal Finance poll, conducted April 1-14.
Fewer Rate Current Financial Situation Positively
Currently, 49% of Americans describe their financial situation as either “excellent” or “good.” A year ago, 56% rated their finances positively. The decline has been entirely offset by an increase in the percentage saying their situation is “only fair.” The 15% of Americans describing their…
