Affordability Remains Americans’ Top Financial Concern, Gallup Finds
April 28, 2026 — The ongoing high cost of living continues to be the foremost financial worry among Americans, according to Gallup’s latest Economy and Personal Finance survey conducted from April 1 to 15. Despite a slight dip from its peak in 2024, affordability issues—including inflation, energy, housing, and healthcare costs—dominate the financial anxieties expressed by U.S. adults.
Inflation and Energy Costs Among Leading Concerns
Approximately 31% of Americans identified inflation and high prices as their top financial problem, holding steady from a year ago but below the 41% peak reported in 2024. Energy costs have surged notably this year, with 13% citing it as a primary challenge—an increase of 10 percentage points from last year and the highest level since 2008. Energy concerns now tie with housing expenses as the second most frequently mentioned financial issue.
Healthcare expenses rank fourth, noted by 8% of respondents, a figure consistent with prior years since 2020. In addition to these core affordability issues, other cost-related concerns include college expenses, transportation, and childcare. Collectively, these keep affordability at the forefront of Americans’ financial worries, outpacing other categories by a wide margin.
Other Financial Challenges: Taxes, Income, and Debt
Beyond cost-of-living concerns, Americans raised issues related to economic conditions and government programs. Taxes were cited by 6%, while smaller shares mentioned the overall state of the economy (2%), stock market fluctuations (2%), interest rates (2%), and Social Security (1%).
Insufficient income also featured prominently, with 7% reporting low wages or lack of money and 4% concerned about unemployment or job loss. Debt levels remain a financial burden, as 6% expressed worries about general debt, and 1% specifically noted credit card debt.
Notably, fewer Americans cited inadequate savings—only 3% mentioned retirement savings and 2% said they lacked general savings.
Financial Outlook Remains Gloomy
The survey reveals a persistent slump in Americans’ financial outlook. Currently, just 46% rate their personal financial situation as “excellent” or “good,” while 35% describe it as “only fair,” and 19% as “poor.” These numbers have remained stable since 2022 but contrast sharply with the more optimistic outlook seen between 2016 and 2021 when at least half typically viewed their finances positively.
Record levels of pessimism were evident as 55% of Americans now say their financial situation is worsening—a slight increase from 53% last year and a marked rise from 47% in 2024. This marks the fifth straight year where more people feel their finances are deteriorating rather than improving, a trend comparable only to the period during the Great Recession.
Persistent and Elevated Worries About Financial Security
Gallup’s panel survey further illustrates that financial worries remain elevated. Majorities express concern about being financially unprepared for retirement (62%) and the inability to afford medical care in serious health emergencies (60%). Over half worry about investment returns (54%) and maintaining their current standard of living (54%).
About 48% are apprehensive about routine healthcare costs, while 41% fret over meeting monthly bills. Paying for college education concerns 40%, and 35% worry about housing costs. Concerns about credit card payments are lower but have increased significantly, with 28% now worried about making minimum payments—an 11-point jump since 2021. The overall trend shows that financial worries eased somewhat from the sharp inflation-driven increases in 2022 but remain elevated compared to early pandemic years.
Conclusion
Gallup’s 2026 findings clearly underscore that affordability remains the central financial challenge for American families. Concerns related to rising prices in key areas such as energy, housing, healthcare, and education outpace other economic issues and contribute to a broadly pessimistic view of personal financial health. This continuing strain reflects the struggles many Americans face in maintaining their standard of living amid persistent economic pressures.
Gallup’s Economy and Personal Finance survey results offer critical insights for policymakers, businesses, and individuals seeking to understand and address the financial challenges confronting U.S. households today.