Middle-Income Americans Maintain Optimism about Finances: According to a recent survey, more Americans are optimistic about their financial situation, despite the fact that many have relied on debt to combat persistent inflation and rising costs.
Middle-Income Americans Maintain Optimism about Finances
According to a survey conducted by Primerica in the second quarter of 2023, fifty percent of Americans are optimistic about their current financial situation, and twenty-two percent believe it will improve in one year, an increase of six percentage points from the previous year. In addition, the percentage of Americans who said their financial situation would worsen decreased by 15 percentage points to 26%.
The improved outlook comes despite the fact that 36% of respondents said they used their credit card more in the past year, up five percentage points from the survey conducted in June 2022. Similarly, 33% reported an increase in their credit card debt over the past year, an increase of four percentage points.
Amy Crews Cutts, the Consulting Economist for Primerica, said in a statement, “After a year and a half of relatively high inflation, particularly for food and energy costs, middle-income households are experiencing financial stress.” “The continued strength of the labour market and the decline in inflation are probable reasons for the increased optimism in the most recent survey regarding the coming year.
“Economic data continue to exceed economists’ expectations, decreasing the likelihood that a recession will begin this year.” The practise of cutting persisted. Respondents to the Primerica survey concur that the worst appears to have passed.
Alternative debt repayment options, such as debt consolidation loans, could help you pay down high-interest debt at a reduced interest rate if you are struggling in the current economy. If you determine to obtain a personal loan to eliminate debt.
Middle-Income Americans Maintain Optimism about Finances: More Americans have difficulty managing debt
According to the survey, the number of Americans struggling to manage their debt is expanding in tandem with their debt levels.
61% of those unable to pay off their credit card debt in full reported difficulty managing their monthly balances, a three-point increase from the survey conducted in March 2023. Large month-to-month balances can occasionally have a negative effect on credit scores.
In addition, households with the lowest credit ratings struggled the most with price increases. Eighty-one percent of respondents in this category have reduced their spending on non-essential items, and 72 percent say they no longer save for the future.
Glenn Williams, the chief executive officer of Primerica, stated that inflation that accumulates over multiple years has a substantial impact on the budgets of middle-income households. Even though annual inflation rates have decreased, high prices continue to harm budgets. This is resulting in increased credit card usage and higher monthly balances, indicating that families are being forced to make up the difference.
If you want to reduce your monthly expenses, paying down your debt could be a smart place to begin. A personal loan could assist you in consolidating your monthly payments and reducing your debt at a lower interest rate.
Navigating Personal Finances as a Business Owner: Balancing Act
American wages have finally surpassed inflation
According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, for the first time in two years, American salaries are outpacing inflation.
According to the Labour Department, inflation-adjusted average hourly compensation rose 1.2% in June compared to the same month a year earlier. The greatest increases were for employees with lower incomes.
According to the report, the wage increase indicates a greater likelihood that the U.S. economy will avoid a recession wholly, as Americans’ spending power remains resilient. The Federal Reserve could interpret this as a signal to continue with its restrictive monetary policy and continue raising interest rates until it reaches its inflation objective of 2%.
In June, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated, “It’s great to see wage increases, especially for those at the bottom of the income spectrum.” However, we want this as part of the process of bringing inflation back down to 2%, which is in everyone’s best interest.
Consider obtaining a personal loan to pay down debt at a lower interest rate, thereby reducing your monthly expenses, if you are struggling due to high inflation.
