A few weeks ago, we highlighted the growing disconnect between how consumers feel about the economy and how they continue to behave financially.
Gallup's annual economy and personal finance survey adds another layer to that story.
Even with inflation well below its 2022 peak, affordability — for the fifth consecutive year — remains the dominant financial concern for American households.
Rising prices were still the most-cited issue in the survey, while concerns about energy costs surged to their highest level since 2008.
Most notably, 55% of Americans now say their financial situation is getting worse — the highest reading the poll has recorded outside of periods surrounding the Great Recession.
