Why so many Americans are Struggling to Afford Everyday Essentials
Sarah White
8 min read
SNAP and WIC
According to a PEW Research Center report from 2025, 1 in 4 adults in the United States said they have experienced trouble paying for medical care and borrowed money from friends or family. 1 in 5 Americans said they had trouble paying for rent, daily transportation costs, child care, and had to get food from a food bank.
Inflation has been a huge factor among Americans’ financial concerns, with 66% of U.S. adults agreeing in April of 2026, according to PEW Research. With the cost of living high and minimum wages low in some states, it is hard for some Americans to work their way up economically. Gas prices have also risen nationwide with the AAA fuel price national average being just above $4 per gallon. These compounding factors are putting strain on American families.
According to a PEW Research Center report from 2025, 1 in 4 adults in the United States said they have experienced trouble paying for medical care and borrowed money from friends or family. 1 in 5 Americans said they had trouble paying for rent, daily transportation costs, child care, and had to get food from a food bank.
Inflation has been a huge factor among Americans’ financial concerns, with 66% of U.S. adults agreeing in April of 2026, according to PEW Research. With the cost of living high and minimum wages low in some states, it is hard for some Americans to work their way up economically. Gas prices have also risen nationwide with the AAA fuel price national average being just above $4 per gallon. These compounding factors are putting strain on American families.
1 in 4 adults in the United States said they have experienced trouble paying for medical care and borrowed money from friends or family.
1 in 4 adults in the United States said they have experienced trouble paying for medical care and borrowed money from friends or family.
Affordability of health care is also a major concern amongst Americans, with 73% agreeing in a PEW Research study. Job hunting and job security are other worries with the U.S. population. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in the month of July, 23,000 jobs were lost.
There are many reasons Americans are feeling the stress of financial strain, especially since the pandemic, when the Consumer Price Index rose to 25.1% from 2020 to 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. For reference, the Consumer Price Index from 2015 to 2020 rose roughly 10%.
With the median home price sitting at $440,600, according to the National Association of Realtors, this is yet another financial and personal goal that may be out of reach for some Americans. According to the NAR, to even qualify for a mortgage for that median home price, your household would need to bring in roughly $109,152. The average median wage in the United States is $64,220.
Affordability of health care is also a major concern amongst Americans, with 73% agreeing in a PEW Research study. Job hunting and job security are other worries with the U.S. population. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in the month of July, 23,000 jobs were lost.
There are many reasons Americans are feeling the stress of financial strain, especially since the pandemic, when the Consumer Price Index rose to 25.1% from 2020 to 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. For reference, the Consumer Price Index from 2015 to 2020 rose roughly 10%.
With the median home price sitting at $440,600, according to the National Association of Realtors, this is yet another financial and personal goal that may be out of reach for some Americans. According to the NAR, to even qualify for a mortgage for that median home price, your household would need to bring in roughly $109,152. The average median wage in the United States is $64,220.
Conclusion
Finding ways to save money, especially for lower-income individuals, is incredibly important to avoid losing even more purchasing power. Budgeting, public transportation, meal planning, limiting subscriptions, and many other things to help keep your money in the bank in case of unexpected emergency expenses are a start towards recouping financial losses caused by high costs.
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Help The Hive brings practical support into one simple platform helping households make confident decisions today while building greater stability for tomorrow.