A new analysis developed and published by Primerica indicated that currently, Americans with average incomes are feeling much more financial pressure amid a high cost of living, which has led them to maintain tight budgets to make ends meet.

Although Primerica's analysis is not based on probabilities, the growing The cost of living, driven by high inflation, continues to put pressure on the wallets of American households. That is why more than 40% of middle-income families have set as their main goal for 2026 keeping up with essential costs such as food, goods, and services, leaving discretionary spending aside. Regarding this, Primerica CEO Glenn J. Williams commented that “many of them are in a deficit position, having used savings or credit cards to fill the gap,” he said. The analyst believes that cost-of-living pressures are eroding wages and outpacing price increases, which will lead many Americans to high credit card debt as they try to rebuild their saving habits. “As expected after several years of this pressure, the attitude of middle-income families has stabilized: it's not getting worse, but it certainly hasn't changed or improved significantly yet,” Williams said. This week, the financial services firm released its latest edition of the quarterly Primerica US Middle-Income Survey. The Financial Security Monitor revealed that over 60% of surveyed Americans with middle incomes are experiencing decreased economic stability due to the high cost of living. The Primerica report also detailed that the proportion of American households expecting the country's economy to worsen fell from 63% to 59%, down from its peak of 76%. While salary adjustments this year will provide some relief, The Primerica specialist recommends having an emergency fund that covers at least six months of income, "if possible. It's very difficult for most middle-income families, but it's a good goal," he emphasized.