Commentary

Almost Half of Americans Can't Handle Sudden Financial Need

According to a new Gallop poll, about half of Americans believe they do not have enough money on hand to "make a major purchase, such as a car, appliance or furniture, or pay for a significant home repair" if they needed to. High-income Americans are more likely than their lower-income counterparts to say they could handle such a financial situation, but 16% of those whose annual household income is $240,000 a year or more say they too wouldn't be able to make a major purchase or handle a major repair.

Based on responses from more than 44,500 Americans to a question asked on the Gallup Daily tracking survey throughout 2015, 51% of Americans said they would have enough money for a major purchase or repair, while 48% said they would not. These perceptions have not changed significantly in recent years. In 2011, the first full year in which Gallup asked the question, 50% said they would be able to handle a financial emergency.

Less than half of those with a household income below $48,000 a year say they would have enough money for an emergency. That percentage rises to three-quarters among those with an income of $90,000 to less than $120,000 a year, well above the national median income, with the percentage topping out at 84% among those in the highest income category included in this analysis -- those earning $240,000 or more.

But, the fact that half of Americans say they would not be able to make a major purchase does not mean that half don't have enough money to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis. Responses show that 70% of Americans say they have enough money "to buy the things they need." Only those whose household income is less than $24,000 a year are below the 50% mark in saying they have enough money to buy what they need. The percentage rises to above 50% among those making $24,000 or more a year, and generally continues to climb across each increasing income group.

Still, one in 10 Americans making $120,000 or more say they don't have enough money to buy what they need on a daily basis.

Have Enough Money On Daily Basis To Meet Needs

 

Percent of Respondents

National Adult/Income

Yes

No

All Adults

70%

29%

< $12,000

38

61

$12K-23.9

49

50

24-35.9

59

41

36-47.9

71

28

48-59.9

76

23

60-89.9

83

17

90-119.9

88

12

120-179.9

90

10

180-239.9

91

9

≥ $240K

90

10

Source: Gallup Daily Tracking, January 2016

fin

Although 70% of Americans have enough money to buy what they need on a daily basis, says the report, three in five Americans report they are cutting back on how much money they spend each week, including over a third of those in the highest income categories. This finding suggests that people may tend to think they are spending too much even if they can afford it, or that they want to save more of their discretionary income.

Cutting Back on Money Spent Each Week

National Adult/Income

Yes

No

All Adults

60%

39%

< $12,000

70

28

$12K-23.9

74

25

24-35.9

69

30

36-47.9

64

35

48-59.9

63

37

60-89.9

57

43

90-119.9

52

48

120-179.9

44

56

180-239.9

42

58

≥ $240K

37

63

Source: Gallup Daily Tracking, January 2016

Concluding, the report summarizes by noting that the significant majority of Americans say they have enough money to do what they need to do on a daily basis, even while almost as many say they are attempting to cut back on their spending. Regardless of Americans' ability to make ends meet on a daily basis, half say that they would struggle with the need to make a major purchase or finance a major repair.

A majority of those making $24,000 or more appear to be able to make it financially on a day-to-day basis in the U.S. today, even though they are far from the $48,000-a-year income threshold for being able to cope with a sudden financial need, says the report.

But, over a third of those making $240,000 or more say they are cutting back on their spending, with a sixth of this group saying they wouldn't be able to make a major purchase or pay for a major repair. Previous Gallup research shows that a significant percentage of high-income Americans are struggling or suffering in financial well-being, supporting the idea that high income alone does not necessarily shield one from money concerns.

For additional information about this Poll, please visit here. Or complete data from Gallup Analytics may be found here inGallup Analytics

 

 

1 comment about "Almost Half of Americans Can't Handle Sudden Financial Need".
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  1. Ed Papazian from Media Dynamics Inc, January 22, 2016 at 9:43 a.m.

    If consumers are cutting back on their spending to the extent indicated in this study, America would be mired in the worst economic depression in our history with countless marketers going "belly up" and the welfare roles bursting at their seams. I'd take these findings with a few grains of the proverbial salt.

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