Many Americans Are Cutting Back on Spending

As a rising number of people in the U.S. worry about the state of their country's economy, data from a recent YouGov poll shows some concerning trends in the spending habits of Americans. The survey, conducted in February and March 2026, shows that while 43 percent of people in the U.S. have cut down on non-essential spending, almost a quarter (24 percent) of respondents have had to cut down on essential spending. Similarly, 16 percent of U.S. adults say they have used money from their savings to cover everyday expenses.

Pessimistic feelings about the economy were mirrored in a similar poll conducted by SSRS for CNN, which found that 76 percent of Americans named high prices and the cost of living as the top economic problem facing their family. Similarly, 54 percent of respondents expressed a feeling of uncertainty when thinking about their financial future. In April, inflation in the United States rose by 3.8 percent year-on-year, while fuel prices continued to climb following the ongoing U.S.-led war against Iran, and the country's economic situation could have major political implications for this year's midterms.