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Even on $100,000-Plus, More Americans Are Living Paycheck to Paycheck

Number reporting budget squeeze climbs 9.3 million, poll shows
Most of the increase comes among relatively high earners

Inflation-adjusted disposable incomes remain below their levels at the start of the pandemic in 2020. — Inflation-adjusted disposable incomes remain below their levels at the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Photographer: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg

By

Alexandre Tanzi

January 30, 2023, 12:05 PM UTCUpdated onJanuary 30, 2023, 1:57 PM UTC

The share of Americans who say they live paycheck-to-paycheck climbed last year, and most of the new arrivals in that category were among the country’s higher earners, a new study shows.

Some 64% of US consumers — equivalent to 166 million people — were living paycheck-to-paycheck at the end of 2022, according to the survey by industry publication Pymnts.com and LendingClub Corp.