Economy News Middle Income Americans Feel More Optimism About Finances And Economy S Direction Survey

We’re in a ‘windchill’ economy, where things feel worse than they are

People feel like their dollars aren’t stretching as far as before, and the cost of living is rising beyond their means. There’s just one problem: That part is not true. Most Americans are getting ... Read More

The US economy looks stable for 2026—and you’ll feel better about it, too

Economists expect GDP to benefit from numerous tailwinds, including lower interest rates, AI spending, and hefty tax refunds. Read More

You're living in a "K-shaped" economy. Here's how that affects you.

To understand how Americans are faring economically these days, it's helpful to consider the eleventh letter of the alphabet. Experts describe the current U.S. economy as "K-shaped," a reference to ... Read More

'Jenga Tower' U.S. Economy Teeters As Middle Class Pulls Back Spending

The surprising resilience of the US economy this year is masking underlying weakness among low- and middle-income households, as higher-income Americans continue to drive growth. This dichotomy ... Read More

Middle-income Americans pessimistic about their financial future amid persistent inflation, analysis shows

Middle-income Americans are facing an economic hangover from the inflation of the last several years, and it has led to increased pessimism about their financial prospects, a new analysis finds. A ... Read More

Americans Feel Bleak Despite Strong Economy — Here's Why

American consumers are seriously depressed, even as key economic data looks solid. A surprisingly deep gloom now dominates U.S. households, even as unemployment, inflation and wage trends suggest ... Read More

Data shows lower-income households are hit harder by the economy's ups and downs

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Bank of America Institute's David Tinsley about what the data reveals about affordability in the U.S. as the Federal Reserve approaches its final meeting of 2025. Read More

Does the U.S. have a 'K-shaped economy'? What it means for you.

On the right side, you can see the upper diagonal heading up, while the one on the bottom falls to the ground. Now substitute upper-income Americans for the topmost diagonal, heading up and away, and ... Read More

New York Fed says household money worries climbed in November

Household anxiety over day-to-day finances is rising again, even as inflation expectations appear to have steadied. The latest reading from the New York Fed's closely watched consumer survey shows ... Read More

Government shutdown costing the economy billions of dollars each week

With bipartisan congressional talks to end the U.S. government shutdown bogging down on Friday, the hit to the national economy is growing, experts said. "Even if there is a reopening of the ... Read More