Pew Survey: 60 Percent of Americans Say Their Income Is Not Enough for the Life They Want, and Over Half Lack Three Months of Emergency Savings
A Pew Research Center survey released on October 14 finds that many Americans are not on solid financial footing. The survey, conducted July 20 to August 9, 2026, asked about financial stability and security, the ability to afford basic necessities, and respondents' outlook on their personal finances.
Sixty percent of respondents said they do not currently have enough income to lead the kind of life they want. Fifty-three percent said they do not have emergency or rainy-day funds that would cover their expenses for three months in case of sickness, job loss or an economic downturn. Twenty-seven percent said they cannot pay some of their monthly bills or can only make partial payments.
One in five or more respondents said they had trouble paying for medical care, daily transportation, rent or mortgage, or food at some point in the past year. Pew said the survey is part of its ongoing work to understand how economic issues affect people in their day-to-day lives.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：食物银行志愿者整理捐赠食品。照片：美国农业部，CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Food bank volunteers sort donated food. Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
