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These Are Americans’ Top 5 Financial Problems Right Now
By Liliana Hall MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Inflation, health care costs and the stock market all made the list.
As the high cost of living continues to strain household budgets, a new Gallup poll shows that Americans’ top financial concerns reflect the everyday toll of an economy on uneven footing. From the Trump administration’s turbulent tariff strategy to the recent first-quarter decline in gross domestic product, recent economic signals have only added to the uncertainty.
Alongside inflation and the cost of living, Americans flagged housing costs, insufficient income or savings, health care expenses and concerns about stock market investments as their most pressing financial worries. (Notably, the Gallup survey was conducted April 1 to April 14, coinciding with the stock market volatility that followed the White House’s tariff announcements.)
Nearly 3 in 10 (29%) U.S. adults across all income levels told Gallup that inflation is the most important financial problem facing their family today — down from 41% in 2024 and 35% in 2023. The drop in concern suggests some relief felt by consumers, but persistently high levels of distress point to lingering unease.
Inflation has been on a turbulent path since 2021. After hovering near the Federal Reserve’s 2% long-run target in 2020, inflation surged the following year due to pandemic-driven supply chain disruptions and an eventual explosion in demand. Although inflation has cooled significantly since peaking at 9.1% in 2022, it still remains above pre-pandemic levels, keeping price fatigue at the center of many households’ financial stress.
In March, inflation showed signs of cooling, falling to 2.4% in the latest consumer price index report. But Americans are still grappling with the cumulative burden of several years of elevated prices — a likely reason why it remains a top financial concern by a significant margin.
Housing costs and insufficient income or savings followed as the next most commonly reported financial concerns in the Gallup poll, each mentioned by 12% of respondents. Housing costs ranked among the top worries across income levels.
Housing affordability remains a key issue for many folks. Although the national median home price dipped 1% in the first quarter of the year, it still stands 5.2% higher than a year ago, according to the National Mortgage Professional’s latest report. Compounding the problem, wages have failed to keep pace, putting homeownership further out of reach for many Americans.
But for lower-income folks, wages and lack of savings were even more pressing concerns than housing.
Health care costs (7%) and concerns about stock market investments (6%) were also cited, though less frequently. Health care costs are a primary issue for lower- and middle-income folks, while stock market investments are a top concern for those with higher incomes and greater exposure to financial markets.
These layered concerns come at a time when economic uncertainty remains high — not just from persistent inflation and affordability challenges but also from policy shifts that ripple through financial markets. That was evident last month when the Trump administration’s sweeping tariff announcement sent U.S. markets into a tailspin, resulting in a record two-day loss that wiped out $6.6 trillion in investor value. The market has since rebounded.
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Liliana Hall is an Austin-based reporter for Money, where she covers a range of topics, including financial news, policy, banking, investing, passive income, financial planning and student loan debt. Passionate about accessibility and financial literacy, she’s dedicated to helping readers navigate the complexities of money management and feel empowered to make informed decisions about their financial futures. Previously, Liliana covered all angles of personal finance as a writer and editor at CreditCards.com, Bankrate and CNET. Before she ever wrote about money, she worked in a handful of newsrooms across Austin, Texas, covering everything from the Texas Legislature to SXSW and the 2019 Men’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Her work has been featured in The Daily Texan, Austin Chronicle and KUT. A Texas native, Liliana graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. When she’s offline, you can probably find her paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake, riding her moped around town or reading for her book club.