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Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households

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Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking

Adults who would cover a $400 emergency expense using cash or its equivalent

Percent

Survey Year Would cover a $400 emergency expense completely using cash or its equivalent
2013 50
2014 53
2015 54
2016 56
2017 59
2018 61
2019 63
2020 64
2021 68
2022 63
2023 63
2024 63

Note: Among all adults.

Would cover a $400 emergency expense completely using cash and its equivalent, by education

Percent

Characteristic 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Less than a high school degree 23 27 27 32 34 27 33 29 33 28 30 29
High school degree or GED 40 47 48 46 50 51 52 53 56 51 51 49
Some college / technical or associate degree 49 49 49 51 52 56 58 59 64 57 58 57
Bachelor's degree or more 72 70 72 76 77 79 81 83 85 84 82 82

Note: Among all adults.

Would cover a $400 emergency expense completely using cash and its equivalent, by race/ethnicity

Percent

Characteristic 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Asian 68 70 69 74 73 73 80 78 82 82 79 75
Black 30 33 36 36 39 40 43 45 48 43 45 43
Hispanic 36 37 38 43 45 43 45 47 54 47 49 47
White 56 59 61 62 65 69 71 72 75 71 70 71

Note: Among all adults.

Would cover a $400 emergency expense completely using cash and its equivalent, by Age

Percent

Characteristic 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
18-29 41 42 45 46 50 51 50 54 58 51 52 47
30-44 45 50 49 52 53 55 55 57 63 57 55 56
45-59 50 55 57 57 60 63 64 64 67 64 64 62
60+ 63 62 64 66 68 71 78 77 79 76 77 78

Note: Among all adults.

Would cover a $400 emergency expense completely using cash and its equivalent, by metro/non-metro status

Percent

Characteristic 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Non-Metro 43 52 50 53 54 58 59 59 60 55 57 57
Metro 51 53 55 56 59 61 64 65 69 64 64 64

Note: Among all adults.

Would cover a $400 emergency expense completely using cash and its equivalent, by parental status

Percent

Characteristic 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Parents living with own children under age 18 49 50 52 56 54 56 64 57 56 55
All other adults 56 58 61 62 67 67 69 65 66 65

Note: Among all adults.



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Last Update: May 28, 2025
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