Economy·Oct 16, 2026
71% Of Middle-Income Americans Cut Spending On Extras, Pew Finds
Just 47% of middle earners managed to save money in the past year, and over half lack a three-month emergency fund.
A new Pew Research Center analysis found 71% of middle-income Americans have cut back spending on extras like eating out or streaming services, according to Business Insider.
Pew defines middle earners as households making between $50,700 and $152,000 after adjusting for family size and local cost of living. Just 47% of middle-income earners said they were able to save money in the past year, compared with 24% of lower-income earners, and just over half of middle-income households lack enough savings to cover three months of expenses in an emergency.
The findings arrive as inflation has been moving in the wrong direction and affordability remains a major issue heading into the midterm election season.
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