How are Americans doing financially?
In 2025, nearly a third of US adults reported being worse off than in 2024, with 91% stating that price increases were their main financial concern.
More than a quarter of US adults say they are struggling financially, with 19% reporting that they are “just getting by” and 8% reporting that they are “finding it difficult to get by.”
The remaining 73% of surveyed adults report “doing okay” financially (39%) or “living comfortably” (34%).
The share of Americans who say they are doing okay or better has remained near 73% since 2022, down from a peak of 78% in 2021.
About 3 in 4 Americans report being at least okay financially.
Percentage of adults who report at least doing okay financially, 2013–2025
This data is based on self-reporting in a survey rather than direct financial information. That said, there are trends based on demographic characteristics of respondents.
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Do Americans feel better or worse off financially than before?
The Federal Reserve tracks whether Americans feel like their financial situations have improved or worsened from the year before. In 2025, 28% of the people surveyed felt they were worse off than the previous year. This is similar to 2024 (29% of adults) but down from 35% in 2022.
From 2014 to 2021, more Americans felt their financial situations were improving than worsening. Since 2022, the opposite has been true.
More Americans say their financial situation has worsened than improved.
Reported financial situation of adults compared with 12 months prior, 2014–2025
What do Americans say are their main financial challenges?
In 2025, “price increases” were the top financial challenge among American adults, with 91% reporting them as a major or minor concern. Saving for retirement was the second most cited financial challenge, with 32% reporting it as a major concern and 40% as a minor concern.
Over 90% of Americans say price increases are their biggest financial concern.
Financial challenges or concerns of adults, 2025
Does education impact financial security?
Adults who’ve completed higher levels of education were more likely to feel financially secure. In 2025, 86% of people with at least a bachelor’s degree reported doing at least okay. That dropped to 71% for people with some college or a technical or associate’s degree, and 64% for people with high school diplomas or GEDs.
The group with the lowest rate of reported financial security was people who didn’t finish high school: 41% reported doing okay.
Adults with higher education report better financial well-being.
Percentage of adults who report at least doing okay financially, by education level, 2013–2025
Do some racial groups feel better off financially than others?
Over the 13 years of available data, Asian adults consistently reported the highest rate of financial security, followed by white adults. Black and Hispanic adults reported the lowest rates.
The share of Black Americans reporting they were at least doing okay fell by 5 percentage points since 2024 and by 8 points since 2023. Meanwhile, the shares among white and Hispanic Americans rose, while the share among Asian Americans was unchanged.
Recent data show a continued decline in financial well-being among Black Americans.
Percentage of adults who report at least doing okay financially, by race/ethnicity, 2013–2025
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