2024 Financial Capability Survey
Survey Key Findings
Nearly one-third of Americans (32%) are just getting by financially, and a staggering six in ten (62%) fear government instability will harm their finances in the next 12 months. This pervasive anxiety is hindering long-term financial planning, with around half feeling uncertainty makes achieving their goals impossible.
Financial Anxiety Soars as Americans Doubt Ability to Reach Goals
Personal Finance Worries
Roughly 6 in 10 (61%) feel most improvements in the U.S. economy don’t benefit people like them.
More than half (55%) agree that uncertainty in the U.S. economy makes it impossible to achieve their long-term financial goals.
At least one-quarter of Americans are concerned their money won’t last (39%), or feel they will never have the things they want in life because of their financial situation (24%).
Financial Challenges
1 in 3 (31%) don’t pay all their bills on time – up from 27% last year.
Only approximately 2 in 5 Americans (42%) have a budget & keep track of spending.
Nearly 4 in 10 (39%) are concerned the money they have or will save won’t last, and top financial concerns remain concentrated on the lack of savings (27%).
Knowledge of Personal Finance
Fewer Americans give themselves an A or B when considering their own knowledge of personal finance (53% vs 57% in 2023).
An increasing number feel that considering what they already know about personal finance, they could still benefit from some advice and answers to everyday financial questions from a professional (80% vs 77% in 2023)
The Harris Poll
Founded in 1956, The Harris Poll is one of the longest running surveys in the U.S. tracking public opinion, motivations, and social sentiments. Every year, we poll millions of people on the trends that are shaping our modern world.
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