Making ends meet a worry even for America's high earners

Making ends meet a worry even for America's high earners
Fed survey finds three-tenths of high-income consumers are concerned about their finances in the next six months.
JUN 26, 2024
By  Bloomberg

Making ends meet in the coming year is a rising concern for US consumers, including among those who make $100,000 or more a year, according to a survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

More than a third of consumers in the survey said they were concerned about making ends meet in the next six months, compared to 28.7% from a year ago. The share of those reporting concern over the next seven to 12 months also climbed. 

Among those able to pay their bills in full in April, more than a quarter said they worry about the next six months, up from a fifth the year before. Higher earners were the most likely of the income groups to be in that category: about 30% of those making at least $150,000 reported being concerned about their finances in the next six months.   

More than two thirds of respondents took some kind of action to cope with increased financial stress over the last year, such as cutting back on spending, skipping monthly bills, or taking an additional job. More than 14% of those earning $150,000 and up said they withdrew money early from their retirement savings.

The share of people already having trouble with their bills is also ticking up, according to the survey of 5,000 US consumers conducted by the Philadelphia Fed from March 22 to April 6. 

When asked about their ability to cover their expenses, 22.5% of respondents indicated that they couldn’t pay some or any of their bills in April. That’s up 2.7 percentage points from a year earlier. Among more affluent consumers the share having trouble more than doubled from 3.4% to 6.9%.

Latest News

JPMorgan tells fintech firms to start paying for customer data
JPMorgan tells fintech firms to start paying for customer data

The move to charge data aggregators fees totaling hundreds of millions of dollars threatens to upend business models across the industry.

FINRA snapshot shows concentration in largest firms, coastal states
FINRA snapshot shows concentration in largest firms, coastal states

The latest snapshot report reveals large firms overwhelmingly account for branches and registrants as trend of net exits from FINRA continues.

Why advisors to divorcing couples shouldn't bet on who'll stay
Why advisors to divorcing couples shouldn't bet on who'll stay

Siding with the primary contact in a marriage might make sense at first, but having both parties' interests at heart could open a better way forward.

SEC spanks closed Osaic RIA for conflicts, over-charging clients on alternatives
SEC spanks closed Osaic RIA for conflicts, over-charging clients on alternatives

With more than $13 billion in assets, American Portfolios Advisors closed last October.

William Blair taps former Raymond James executive to lead investment management business
William Blair taps former Raymond James executive to lead investment management business

Robert D. Kendall brings decades of experience, including roles at DWS Americas and a former investment unit within Morgan Stanley, as he steps into a global leadership position.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.