Core Viewpoint - The American Dream is perceived as increasingly unattainable, with nearly 70% of respondents believing it "no longer holds true or never did," marking the highest level of skepticism in the survey's 15-year history [1] Group 1: Pessimism Across Demographics - The pessimism regarding the American Dream spans across political, class, and demographic lines, with similar views reported by men and women, young and old, and across income levels [2] - A significant political divide exists, with 55% of Republicans expressing negative views compared to 90% of Democrats [2] Group 2: Economic Sentiment and Future Outlook - Only 25% of respondents feel they have a good chance of improving their standard of living, a record low in the 38-year history of the study, and over 75% doubt life will improve for the next generation [4] - Despite the discontent, 44% of respondents felt positive about the economy, an increase from 38% in 2024 [5] Group 3: Economic Indicators - The median home price has increased by 532% from $63,900 in 1979 to $403,800 in 2025 [5] - Wages for middle-income earners have only grown by 6% since 1979 [5] - The wage gap has widened, with CEOs now earning 296 times what a typical worker makes, up from 30 times in 1979 [5] - Inflation rates have been significant, with rates of 7% in 2021 and 6.5% in 2022 impacting household budgets [5] - The consumer price index indicates inflation at 2.7% [5] - Americans have reached record credit card debt levels of $1.21 trillion in 2024 [5] - The unemployment rate stands at 4.3% as of August 2025, which is considered a healthy level [5]