The No. 1 Reason Americans Are Stressed About Money Going Into 2026

Among that group of Americans, some of the top reasons for being stressed about finances were the cost of everyday expenses (54%), low income (46%), high debt (35%), and a lack of job security (33%). The most recent Consumer Sentiment Survey from the University of Michigan also indicates that Americans are feeling worse about the economy now than they did a year ago. In December 2025, the headline index was 52.9, down more than 28% from a year earlier. Key Takeaways 2025 was a year of change for the U.S. ec ...