Majority of Middle-Class Americans Say They Struggle Financially
- Majority of people feel financially insecure in survey
- A third of respondents feel ‘extreme stress’ about paying debt
Customers shop at a store in New Jersey, US.
Photographer: Stephanie Keith/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Almost two-thirds of Americans considered middle class said they are facing economic hardship and don’t anticipate a change for the rest of their lives, according to a poll commissioned by the National True Cost of Living Coalition.
By many traditional measures, the US economy is strong, with robust labor, housing and stock markets, as well as solid gross domestic product growth. But the data don’t capture the financial insecurity of millions of households who worry about their future and are unable to save, according to the group, created this year to come up with cost-of-living tools that help gauge economic well-being.