Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households
Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking
Adults doing worse off than 12 months ago
Percent
| Year | Worse off |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 21 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 24 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 35 |
| 2023 | 31 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 28 |
Note: Among all adults.
Adults doing worse off than 12 months ago, by education
Percent
| Characteristic | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than a high school degree | 34 | 31 | 28 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 36 | 33 | 40 | 37 | 40 | 39 |
| High school degree or GED | 22 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 27 | 23 | 38 | 34 | 33 | 28 |
| Some college or associate degree | 23 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 26 | 23 | 36 | 33 | 30 | 29 |
| Bachelor's degree or more | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 13 | 31 | 27 | 23 | 24 |
Note: Among all adults.
Adults doing worse off than 12 months ago, by race/ethnicity
Percent
| Year | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asian | 15 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 9 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 25 |
| Black | 19 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 27 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 28 |
| Hispanic | 20 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 30 | 22 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 33 |
| White | 22 | 20 | 19 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 22 | 21 | 38 | 33 | 30 | 26 |
Note: Among all adults.
Adults doing worse off than 12 months ago, by age
Percent
| Characteristic | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-29 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 26 | 20 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 |
| 30-44 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 20 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 32 |
| 45-59 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 26 | 21 | 37 | 35 | 33 | 29 |
| 60+ | 24 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 19 | 39 | 29 | 26 | 23 |
Note: Among all adults.
Adults doing worse off than 12 months ago, by metro/non-metro status
Percent
| Characteristic | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Metro | 23 | 22 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 27 | 24 | 40 | 38 | 36 | 28 |
| Metro | 21 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 24 | 20 | 34 | 30 | 28 | 28 |
Note: Among all adults.
Adults doing worse off than 12 months ago, by parental status
Percent
| Characteristic | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parents living with own children under age 18 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 31 | 21 | 35 | 36 | 33 | 31 |
| All other adults | 18 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 22 | 20 | 34 | 30 | 28 | 27 |
Note: Among all adults.
Last Update: May 13, 2026