A recent ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll, conducted using the probability-based online Ipsos KnowledgePanel, reveals a significant financial struggle for many Americans. The survey captures the on-the-ground reality of the cost of living, indicating that while most can afford necessities, more than half now feel that major life expenses, such as health care, weeklong vacations, and new cars, are simply unreachable. This suggests a public capable of covering the basics but often unable to achieve key financial milestones.
How the poll was conducted
The survey included 2,589 adults from the United States, who were interviewed using address-based sampling between February 12 and 17, 2026. Ipsos ensured that the data accurately reflected national demographics by weighting responses based on age, race, gender, education, and income levels. The overall margin of sampling error for the full sample is ± two percentage points. However, error margins are higher for subgroups (e.g., specific income brackets or partisans), but the established patterns remain distinct.
Cost of living as a core theme
A survey of Americans’ financial well-being, specifically housing, major purchases, monthly bills, and overall economic state, reveals widespread concern about the cost of living. The responses, which were also cross-referenced with political party preferences and opinions on President Donald Trump’s second term, generally indicate that while people can cover regular expenses such as rent and gas, they struggle to afford higher costs.
Economic mood under Trump’s second term
Despite President Trump’s portrayal of a “roaring” economy in his State of the Union address, public opinion indicates a disconnect. Nearly half of Americans believe the economy has deteriorated since the beginning of his second term (January 2025), even if improvements are seen in isolation. Furthermore, about one-third of the population feels personally worse off. Overall, 53% believe they only earn enough to maintain, rather than improve, their current standard of living. These statistics are in stark contrast to the administration’s positive claims.
Why affordability matters politically
The survey, which was conducted before Trump’s February 24 address, provides a baseline of opinion. Its findings reveal a significant disparity that will influence the 2026 midterm cycle: while voters respond positively to economic messaging, they continue to face financial strain in their personal budgets. When people believe that necessities are unaffordable, both parties will have a difficult time convincing the public that the economy is strong.
Housing: A Dream Most Renters Do Not Expect To Reach
Approximately two-thirds of Americans who are not current homeowners express doubt that they will ever be able to afford a home. Renters of all ages, income levels, and geographic regions share a sense that the housing market is inaccessible, not just difficult. Many respondents regard homeownership as an improbable goal, rather than one that has been postponed.
Wanting a home versus believing it is possible
Even though 74% of renters have the desire to own their own home, only 65% of them believe they will actually be able to accomplish this objective. A significant affordability crisis is brought to light by the nine-point gap between consumers’ desires and their expectations. On the other hand, renters cite the rising cost of living and high property prices as major barriers to homeownership, although homeownership is still considered to be an essential component of the traditional American Dream.
Age splits in homeownership hope
Renters who are younger have a slightly more optimistic outlook on the possibility of becoming homeowners in the future than renters who are older, but both groups feel constrained. To be more specific, 35% of people under the age of 50 believe that they will eventually be able to purchase a home, whereas only 26% of people 65 and older believe that they will be able to do so. In light of this, it appears that even younger people are hesitant to make the transition from renting to owning a home, most likely as a result of the difficulties that are currently being experienced with housing prices and wages.
Income and the chance of buying
There is a significant relationship between household income and the likelihood of homeownership. 41% of people who do not own a home but have household incomes of one hundred thousand dollars or more are planning to buy a house. On the other hand, these same optimistic sentiments are expressed by fewer than one-third of those earning less than this amount. Even though people with higher incomes have higher expectations, the majority of people still have doubts about their ability to afford a desirable home.
Partisan differences in housing expectations
Republicans who do not currently own a home exhibit greater optimism about future homeownership compared to their Democratic and independent counterparts. Specifically, 41% of non-homeowner Republicans believe they will purchase a home soon, significantly higher than the 33% of independents and only 27% of Democrats who hold this belief. This difference in optimism mirrors the wider partisan disparity in economic confidence observed during the second term of the Trump administration.
Health Care, Vacations, And New Cars: Beyond Reach For Many
The poll asked each household if several large expenses were affordable or unaffordable. 74% of Americans believe that buying a new vehicle is prohibitively expensive. 60% say a weeklong vacation is too expensive. 56% believe health care is too expensive. These are majority responses, not fringe impressions, and they shape the discussion about living costs.
Health care as a central pain point
Health care stands out due to its overlap with other types of financial risk. People who already have debt frequently report that unexpected medical bills are what push them over the edge. Premiums, deductibles, and prescription costs all contribute to a sense of strain. According to the ABC article, health costs are central to why many Americans believe the economy is working against them.
Why a new car feels impossible
High new vehicle prices, combined with post-pandemic market conditions and elevated interest rates, have resulted in high monthly car payments. As a result, it is not surprising that nearly 75% of those polled believe that purchasing a new car is prohibitively expensive. This financial strain has a direct impact on working households, as many rely on vehicles for transportation, and even used cars and repairs have become a significant financial burden.
Vacations become a luxury, not a norm
As a result of the fact that 60% of people have reported that they are unable to afford a vacation of that length, the typical dream of a weeklong vacation for middle-class people is now unreachable for many. Due to the high costs of travel, which include airfare, lodging, and food, as well as the possibility of lost wages for hourly workers, families frequently choose not to take any trips at all. Because of this, many people favor shorter trips that are less expensive and that are located closer to their homes, sometimes known as taking a “staycation.”
Everyday expenses that still tip the budget
The poll also tracks costs that are less significant but more frequent, such as going out to eat, purchasing groceries, and paying for energy at home. The majority of respondents (49%) believe that going out to dinner is not within their financial means. 45% of people believe that the cost of groceries is unaffordable, and the same percentage of people believe that the cost of home energy and utilities is unaffordable. These responses imply that the pinch of the cost of living is not confined to a single major category, but rather manifests itself in various aspects of daily life.
What most people still say they can cover
Certain essential goods are still considered to be within budget, even when there is a strain on the financial situation. For instance, 71% of respondents consider the cost of gasoline to be affordable, and 60% of respondents consider their rent or mortgage to be affordable. It has been reported by The Washington Post that this indicates that many households place a higher priority on maintaining their homes and fuel, and as a result, they may reduce their spending on non-essential or large purchases.
Debt, Demographics, And A Middle Class That Feels Stuck
The majority of Americans, approximately 46%, are carrying some form of debt, which may include balances on credit cards, auto loans, student loans, or medical bills. A total of fifteen percent of this group considers their current level of debt to be “a lot.” Consequently, nearly 1 in 6 adults report that they are burdened by a significant amount of debt, which leaves them susceptible to experiencing new financial setbacks or emergencies.
Income, race, and who holds debt
There are inconsistencies in the way that debt is distributed. Comparatively, approximately half of those with household incomes below $100,000 report having at least some debt, whereas 41% of those with incomes at or above $100,000 report having debt. This contrasts with those with household incomes of $100,000 or more. In contrast to the percentages of white Americans and Asian Americans who report having some debt, the percentages of African Americans and Hispanic Americans who report having some debt are significantly higher, at 57% and 53%, respectively. The disparities that exist here are a reflection of long-term differences in income, wealth, and access to credit.
Standard of living: just maintaining, not advancing
The majority of people, 53%, believe that they have “just enough to maintain” their current standard of living. The results of a similar poll conducted by Post Ipsos a year ago show that this share has remained essentially unchanged. 28% describe themselves as “getting ahead,” which is a slight increase from the previous percentage of 25%. 17% of people stated that they are “falling behind financially,” which is a decrease from 20%. Even though the majority of people are not collapsing, they do not have the impression that they are progressing either.
Class and the feeling of “getting ahead”
The perception of financial progress is sharply divided along income lines, reflecting “stratified advancement,” as noted by The Post. Approximately 4 out of 10 households with incomes of $100,000 or more report “getting ahead.” This sense of progress drops significantly for middle-income earners: only about 2 in 10 of those making between $50,000 and $100,000 share the same view. For households earning less than $50,000, the feeling of advancement is rare, reported by just 1 in 10.
Gender, age, and parental status in the squeeze
When it comes to finances and affordability, different demographics have different perspectives. When it comes to their financial future, men are more optimistic than women, who find it more difficult to afford essential and discretionary items (such as rent, groceries, dining out, cars, and vacations). People who are 50 years old or older are more likely to believe that they are making progress financially than those who are younger than 50. As a result of the higher costs associated with children, parents are more likely than non-parents to find that essential expenses and leisure items are beyond their financial means.
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How Economic Perceptions Feed Directly Into Politics
According to the findings of the survey, there is a correlation between the financial self-assessment of voters and the political party that they choose to support in the House of Representatives elections. By a margin of 67% to 29%, voters who strongly prefer the Republican candidate over the Democrat candidate are those who believe they are “getting ahead” financially. The Republican Party, which prioritizes economic growth over wealth redistribution, is typically associated with these individuals who have achieved a high level of financial success.
Voters who are merely maintaining or falling behind
Democrats receive stronger support from voters experiencing financial strain. Specifically, among those who report having just enough to maintain their current lifestyle, Democrats are preferred by a margin of 54% to 37%. This preference is even more pronounced among voters who feel they are falling behind economically, favoring Democrats 60% to 25%. This trend reinforces the established correlation between economic uncertainty and increased support for political parties that advocate for more robust social safety net programs.
Partisan splits on affordability issues
Not only does the interpretation of cost-of-living pressures depend on party affiliation, but it also depends on factional identity. This is demonstrated by the fact that Democrats and Independents are more likely to view all items that are measured as being unaffordable than Republicans are. It is important to note that within the Republican coalition, individuals who do not identify as supporters of the “MAGA” movement are more likely to report that the issue is unaffordable than those who do identify as MAGA Republicans.
What the poll ultimately shows about the cost of living
Taken together, the ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos data show a country where most people can keep paying rent and buying fuel, but where health care, vacations, homeownership, and new cars feel unreachable for the majority. Debt and stagnant advancement deepen that sense of being stuck. As campaigns build their messages around inflation and growth, this poll forces a blunt question: What does “a good economy” mean if people still cannot afford core pieces of a stable life?
A.I. Disclaimer: This article was created with AI assistance and edited by a human for accuracy and clarity.
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