Operation HOPE’s First Quarter 2026 HOPE Insider Survey Reveals Economic Anxiety Persists, but Financial Literacy Support is Building Resilience

Operation HOPE’s First Quarter 2026 HOPE Insider Survey Reveals Economic Anxiety Persists, but Financial Literacy Support is Building Resilience

Despite widespread concerns about debt and cost of living, more HOPE clients report improving financial wellbeing and greater confidence managing their finances

Operation HOPE, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping low- and moderate-income Americans thrive in an ever-changing economy, today released findings from the first quarter edition of The HOPE Insider, its quarterly national survey measuring financial sentiment, economic outlook and personal financial wellbeing among more than 1,500 Operation HOPE clients nationwide. The survey found that while economic optimism remains low and many Americans continue to struggle with rising costs and debt, financial literacy coaching and proactive financial planning are helping build resilience and improve their financial outlook.

Key First Quarter 2026 Findings:

1. Optimism in the U.S. economy is very low