Introduction to Financial Stress
The vast majority of U.S. adults are at least somewhat stressed about the cost of groceries, a new poll finds, as prices continue to rise and concerns about the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs remain widespread. About half of all Americans say the cost of groceries is a “major” source of stress in their life right now, while 33% say it’s a “minor” source of stress, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Only 14% say it’s not a source of stress, underscoring the pervasive anxiety most Americans continue to feel about the cost of everyday essentials.
Financial Stressors
Other financial stressors — like the cost of housing or the amount of money in their bank accounts — are also broadly felt, but they weigh more heavily on younger Americans, who are less likely than older adults to have significant savings or own property. The survey also found that about four in 10 Americans under the age of 45 say they’ve used what are known as “buy now, pay later” services when spending on entertainment or restaurant meals or when paying for essentials like groceries or medical care.
Adam Bush, 19, based in Portland, N.Y., is one of those younger Americans who has used pay-later services for things like groceries or entertainment. Bush works as a welder, fabricating parts for trucks for Toyota, and makes under $50,000 per year. “I just keep watching the prices go up, so I’m looking for the cheapest possible stuff,” he said. “Hot pockets and TV dinners.”
Economic Recession
An economic recession is defined as a significant and widespread decline in economic activity for multiple months.
Everyone is Stressed about Groceries
Groceries are one of the most far-reaching financial stressors, affecting the young and old alike, the poll finds. While Americans over age 60 are less likely than younger people to feel major financial anxiety about housing, their savings, child care, or credit card debt, they are just as worried about the cost of groceries. Esther Bland, 78, who lives in Buckley, Washington, said groceries are a “minor” source of stress — but only because her local food banks fill the gap. Bland relies on her Social Security and disability payments each month to cover her rent and other expenses — such as veterinary care for her dogs — in retirement, after decades working in an office processing product orders. “I have no savings,” she said. “I’m not sure what’s going on politically when it comes to the food banks, but if I lost that, groceries would absolutely be a major source of stress.”
Bland’s monthly income mainly goes toward her electric, water and cable bills, she said, as well as care of her dogs and other household needs. “Soap, paper towels, toilet paper. I buy gas at Costco, but we haven’t seen $3 a gallon here in a long time,” she said. “I stay home a lot. I only put about 50 miles on my car a week.”
Costco is a membership warehouse club with more than 800 locations worldwide, more than 600 of those in U.S.
Income and Grocery Costs
According to the poll, 64% of the lowest-income Americans — those who have a household income of less than $30,000 a year — say the cost of groceries is a “major” stressor. That’s compared with about 4 in 10 Americans who have a household income of $100,000 or more. But even within that higher-income group, only about 2 in 10 say grocery costs aren’t a worry at all.
Women and Hispanic Adults
Housing is another substantial source of worry for U.S. adults — along with their savings, their income and the cost of health care. About half of U.S. adults say housing is a “major” source of stress, according to the poll, while about four in 10 say that about the amount of money they get paid, the amount of money they have saved and the cost of health care. About three in 10 say credit card debt is a “major” source of stress, while about two in 10 say that about the cost of child care and student debt. 40% of the food produced in the United States is never consumed, resulting in huge quantities of edible food discarded in landfills.
Financial Anxiety
But some groups are feeling much more anxiety about their finances than others. Women, for instance, are more likely than men to report high levels of stress about their income, savings, the cost of groceries and the cost of health care. Hispanic adults are also particularly concerned about housing costs and both credit card and student debt. About two-thirds of Hispanic adults say the cost of housing is a “major” source of stress, compared with about half of Black adults and about 4 in 10 white adults.
Lifestyle Changes
Some people are making changes to their lifestyle as a result of high costs. Shandal LeSure, 43, who works as a receptionist for a rehabilitation hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and makes between $85,000 and $100,000 a year, said she’s started shopping for groceries at less expensive stores. “It’s an adjustment,” she said. “Sometimes the quality isn’t as good.”
Buy Now, Pay Later Services
As they stretch limited budgets, about three in 10 U.S. adults overall say they’ve used “buy now, pay later” services such as Afterpay or Klarna to purchase groceries, entertainment, restaurant meals or meal delivery, or medical or dental care, according to the poll. Bland, the Washington state retiree, said she’s paid for pet surgery with a pay-later plan. Younger Americans are much likelier than older people to have used pay-later plans for entertainment, groceries or restaurant meals, but there’s no age gap on medical care. Black and Hispanic people are also especially likely to adopt the plans.
Risks of Buy Now, Pay Later Services
An increasing share of “buy now, pay later” customers are having trouble repaying their loans, according to recent disclosures from the lenders. The loans are marketed as a safer alternative to traditional credit cards, but there are risks, including a lack of federal oversight. Some consumer watchdogs also say the plans lead consumers to overextend themselves financially. LeSure said she’s used pay-later services for things like new clothes, while she balances debt payments for a car loan, student loans and medical bills. She’s also turned to them to cover hotel costs after being evicted. “That’s been able to help me stretch my dollar,” she said.
Conclusion
The cost of groceries is a significant source of stress for many Americans, with about half of all adults saying it’s a “major” source of stress in their life right now. Other financial stressors, such as housing and savings, also weigh heavily on many Americans. Some groups, such as women and Hispanic adults, are feeling more financial anxiety than others. As prices continue to rise, many Americans are making changes to their lifestyle, such as shopping for groceries at less expensive stores or using “buy now, pay later” services.
FAQs
Q: What is the main source of financial stress for Americans?
A: The cost of groceries is the main source of financial stress for many Americans, with about half of all adults saying it’s a “major” source of stress in their life right now.
Q: Which groups are feeling more financial anxiety than others?
A: Women and Hispanic adults are feeling more financial anxiety than others, with women more likely to report high levels of stress about their income, savings, and the cost of groceries and health care, and Hispanic adults particularly concerned about housing costs and credit card and student debt.
Q: What are some ways that Americans are coping with high costs?
A: Some Americans are making changes to their lifestyle, such as shopping for groceries at less expensive stores or using “buy now, pay later” services, to cope with high costs.
Q: What are the risks of using “buy now, pay later” services?
A: The risks of using “buy now, pay later” services include a lack of federal oversight and the potential for consumers to overextend themselves financially.
