Financial Buffer Gone as Stress Soars to Record High
NFCC Financial Stress Forecast confirms that Q4 data shows stress returning to peak levels (6.5), while the Q1 forecast warns of a surge to a new all-time high of 6.8.
Washington, D.C. — The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) today released its Q1 2026 Financial Stress Forecast (FSF), which shows financial stress accelerating beyond previous records. After returning to a peak of 6.5 in Q4 2025, the NFCC forecasts stress will climb to a new historic high of 6.8 in the first quarter of 2026.
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