More than a third of U.S. adults say the fragile state of the economy is stressing them out, with the impact of high inflation a particular concern, a new poll shows.
About half of U.S. adults in households earning less than $60,000 annually and about 4 in 10 of those in households earning $60,000 to $100,000 say they’re very stressed by their personal finances, according to The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Roughly a quarter of those in higher income households report worrying about money.
Overall, 36% of adults say the national economy is a major source of anxiety, found the poll, conducted March 16-20, of 1,081 adults.
“Few adults are very confident they can keep up with their expenses, pay an unexpected medical expense, have enough to retire or find a job,” the polling group said.
Beverly Lucas, 76, of Cary, North Carolina, said she sees how inflation has hemmed in the lives of her fellow seniors on fixed incomes.
“There’s no comfort zone in their finances — no vacation. They’re just getting by,” she said. “Medications are expensive. Groceries. No one’s living large or having fun. They should be having fun.”
Lucas, a retired Christian education teacher who lives off Social Security and a pension, said she is moving to downsize and save $500 a month. If she had stayed in the two-bedroom where she had lived, she said, her expenses would have gone up this year.
About three-quarters of adults across…
