Despite current high cost of living, families slightly more optimistic about future than year ago.
Primerica, a leading provider of financial services in the United States and Canada, released the Middle-Income Financial Security Monitor for the second quarter of 2023 — a national survey that measures changes in the sentiments of middle-income families in the U.S. about their finances.
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“Economic data continues to be stronger than economists expected, lowering the probability that a recession will start this year. Respondents in the Primerica survey indicate similarly that the worst seems to be behind us.”
The survey found that families say they are increasingly racking up credit card balances and debt. More than a third (36%) of respondents used their credit card more in the past year, up five percentage points compared to the June 2022 survey. Similarly, a third (33%) noted their credit card debt increased over the past year, up four percentage points in the same time frame.
Most respondents (71%) say their income continues to fall behind the cost of living. About three-quarters (76%) are cutting back on non-essential purchases, and nearly half (48%) are cutting back or pausing saving for the future to make up the difference.
Those with lower financial security scores, however, are finding the rising cost of living to be even more challenging, with more than four-fifths (81%) in this category cutting back on non-essentials and nearly three-quarters (72%) pausing saving for the future.
Despite these challenges, middle-income Americans are slightly more optimistic regarding their financial future compared to a year ago. Looking ahead to a year from now, about a fifth (22%) say they will be better off financially, up six percentage points since June 2022, and a quarter (26%) say they will be worse off, down 15 percentage points in the same time frame.
“Compounding inflation over multiple years is weighing heavily on middle-income budgets,” said Glenn J. Williams, CEO of Primerica. “Even as annual rates of inflation have eased, high prices are still hurting budgets. This is driving increased credit card use and higher monthly balances, indicating that families are being forced to bridge the gap.”
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Key Findings from Primerica’s U.S. Middle-Income Financial Security Monitor
- Many find credit card debt difficult to manage. Among those who are unable pay their full credit card balance each month, a majority (61%) find managing this debt difficult, an increase of three percentage points since the March 2023 survey.
- Families plan to spend less on summer vacation and activities. Middle-income Americans are expressing caution when it comes to summer expenses, with 43% planning to spend less than last year and only 14% anticipating spending more. Of those who plan to go on vacation, more than half say they will visit free attractions (55%) and explore destinations close to home (55%).
- Americans are uninterested in using AI tools for financial tasks. The vast majority of middle-income households are not interested in using AI for recommending a financial advisor or consultant (83%), giving financial advice (82%), suggesting a financial plan for retirement (81%) or selecting stocks or mutual funds (78%).
“After a year and a half of relatively high inflation, especially for food and energy expenses, middle-income households are being financially stressed according to the survey,” said Amy Crews Cutts, Primerica’s Consulting Economist.
“The continued strength in the labor market and easing inflation are likely reasons for the stronger optimism about the coming year in the most recent survey,” Cutts continued. “Economic data continues to be stronger than economists expected, lowering the probability that a recession will start this year. Respondents in the Primerica survey indicate similarly that the worst seems to be behind us.”
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