Inflation continues to impact American wallets.
Some 64% of U.S. consumers (166 million) say they’re living paycheck to paycheck, according to a new survey by LendingClub in partnership with PYMNTS. That number is up 3% from last year.
And it’s not just middle-income Americans struggling to pay their bills.
Surprisingly, 51% of consumers earning more than $100,000 said they also lived paycheck to paycheck.
“While the number of Americans living paycheck to paycheck is close to the height we saw in the middle of the pandemic, the causes appear to be very different, as the economy is not sheltering in place like it was back in 2020,” said Anuj Nayar, financial health officer at LendingClub.
Nayar pointed to inflation and the Fed’s efforts to curb it as a reason for consumers’ paycheck-to-paycheck status, as debt continues to be on the rise.
Americans remain optimistic
Despite the dire news, many paycheck-to-paycheck consumers remain optimistic that things will turn around for them. According to the survey, four out of 10 expect their money situation to improve next year — up 7 percentage points from 33% in July 2022.
Why the positive vibes? Paycheck-to-paycheck consumers believe that promotions and side hustles will help them earn more cash in the coming year.
But Nayar expressed concern that this kind of magical thinking could slow economic recovery.
“If the consumer perception that their incomes will improve this year is proven true, it will hamper the effects of the Fed to curb inflationary pressures,” said Nayar. “We can expect more and more Americans of all incomes identifying themselves as living paycheck to paycheck until we see the economy recover. Now more than ever, it is crucial for consumers to examine spending and build a cushion of savings to prepare for the unexpected.”
Most Americans agree, shying away from buying big-ticket items in 2023. Many in the survey said they wouldn’t purchase expensive OLED TVs and Smart refrigerators this year. They also expect to take fewer vacations. Only 35% of consumers said they would travel for pleasure in 2023.