Americans are slightly more bullish about 2026, according to a New York Federal Reserve survey released Thursday.
The central bank’s monthly Survey of Consumer Expectations found that consumers expect inflation to be higher in the short term, but households, overall, are more optimistic about their future financial standing.
Perceptions about current financial conditions and year-ahead expectations both improved, with a smaller share of Americans expecting a worsening financial situation and a larger share expecting an improved financial situation one year from now, the New York Fed’s survey found.
However, there are also pockets of concern: Delinquency expectations deteriorated, rising to the highest level since the start of the pandemic, according to the survey.
The perceived probability of missing a minimum debt payment in the months ahead rose to 15.3%, the highest level since April 2020. The increase was most pronounced among individuals over the age of 60, those without a college degree and those with annual household incomes below $50,000, the New York Fed’s survey found. Across all age and education levels, job loss expectations also worsened.
