Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Title: Current Evidence on Household Financial Well-Being
Author-Name: Ella Grant, Luke Pardue
Abstract: Despite strong economic conditions, survey data reveal substantial
  economic worry and discontent among Americans. Pew survey data from 2024
  indicated that “strengthening the economy” was Americans’ top
  policy priority, above “defending against terrorism,” “reducing
  crime,” and “dealing with immigration” (Pew 2024). A separate Pew
  survey from that same year found that only 53 percent of Americans
  believe that the “American Dream,” defined as the idea that anyone
  can achieve success in the United States through hard work and
  determination, is still possible (Borelli 2024). Advancing broad
  economic prosperity requires an understanding of the economic well-being
  of American households, as well as potential contributors to widespread
  economic malaise. With that goal, this piece highlights current evidence
  on household financial well-being through six facts and accompanying
  figures. First, we document trends in earnings and income growth across
  the wage distribution as well as by educational attainment, gender, and
  geography. Second, we highlight trends in the costs of two salient
  household budget items: housing and healthcare.
Creation-Date: 2025-11-01
Keywords: household finance, poverty
File-URL: https://www.economicstrategygroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Current-Evidence-on-Household-Financial-Well-Being.pdf
File-Format: Application/PDF
Handle: RePEc:cxx:wpaper:current-evidence-on-household-financial-well-being