Cora Lewis and Linley Sanders, Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — The majority of US adults have been exposed to prices continue to rise and concerns about the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs have spread, making new polls findings that they have at least some emphasis on grocery costs.
About half of all Americans say the cost of food is the “major” stress source in life now, while 33% say it’s a “minor” stress source, according to a poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Only 14% say it’s not a cause of stress, highlighting the widespread anxiety that most Americans continue to feel about the cost of everyday essentials.
Other financial stressors, such as housing costs and bank account amounts, are also widely felt, but are heavier on younger Americans who are less likely to save a significant amount of savings or have their own wealth than older people.
The survey found that around four in four Americans under the age of 45 use the “buy now, pay later” service when spending on entertainment, restaurant meals, or paying for essentials such as groceries and medical care.
Adam Bush, 19, based in Portland, New York, is one of the young Americans who used payroll services for food and entertainment. Bush works as a welder, manufacturing Toyota truck parts, earning under $50,000 a year.
“I keep watching prices go up, so I’m looking for the cheapest possible thing,” he said. “Hot Pocket and TV Dinner.”
Everyone is stressed about groceries
Food is one of the most widespread financial stressors, affecting both young and old alike, polls find. Americans over the age of 60 are less likely to feel greater financial anxiety about housing, savings, childcare or credit card debt than younger people, but are concerned about the costs of groceries.
Esther Brand, 78, who lives in Buckley, Washington, said food is a “minor” source of stress, as her local food bank fills the gap. The brand relies on monthly social security and disability payments to rent and other expenses like dog veterinarians, after retiring, working on office processing products orders for decades after retirement.
“I don’t have any savings,” she said. “I don’t know what’s going on politically when it comes to food banks, but if you lose it, groceries will definitely be a major source of stress.”
The brand’s monthly income is primarily directed towards her electricity, water and cable bills, she said, and care for her dog and other household needs.
“Soap, paper towels, toilet paper. I buy gas at Costco, but I haven’t seen a gallon of $3 in a long time,” she said. “I’m home a lot. I only put about 50 miles in my car a week.”
According to polls, 64% of the lowest-income Americans (people with household incomes under $30,000 a year) say the cost of food is the “major” stressor. This is compared to about four in 10 Americans with household incomes of more than $100,000.
But even within that high-income group, only about two in 10 say that the cost of food is not at all a concern.
Women and Hispanic adults are particularly financially unsure
Housing is another source of worry for our adults. With savings, income and healthcare costs. About half of our adults say housing is a “major” source of stress, according to polls, but about four in ten people say what they’re paying, how much they’ve saved, and the cost of their healthcare expenses.
While three in ten credit card debt is a “major” source of stress, about two in ten say about childcare and student debt costs.
However, some groups feel much more uncertain about their finances than others. For example, women are more likely than men to report higher levels of stress regarding income, savings, grocery costs and healthcare costs. Hispanic adults are particularly concerned about both housing costs and debts for both credit cards and student. About two-thirds of Hispanic adults say housing costs are the “major” source of stress.
Some people are making changes to their lifestyles as a result of high costs. Shandal Lezle, 43, who works as a receptionist at Rehabilitation Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee and earns between $85,000 and $100,000 a year, said he has begun grocery shopping at inexpensive stores.
“It’s an adjustment,” she said. “The quality can sometimes be that bad.”
Many US adults use the “Buy now, pay later” service
Due to limited budgets, around three in 10 US adults use the “buy now, pay later” service, and polls say they have purchased groceries, entertainment, restaurant meals or meal delivery, or medical or dental treatment.
Brand, a retired Washington state, said he paid for the pet surgery in his payer plan.
Young Americans are more likely than older people to use payroll plans for entertainment, groceries or restaurant meals, but there is no age gap in healthcare. Black and Hispanic people are particularly likely to adopt the plan.
A recent disclosure from lenders shows that an increase in the percentage of customers “buy now, pay later” has been struggling to pay off the loan. Loans are sold as a safer alternative to traditional credit cards, but there are risks, including lack of federal oversight. Some consumer watchdogs also say the plan will lead consumers to over-expand themselves financially.
Lesure said she uses pay lator services for things like new clothes, while she balances her car loans, student loans and medical bills debt payments. She also turned to them to cover the hotel costs after being kicked out.
“It helped me to extend my dollars,” she said.
The AP-NORC vote for 1,437 adults was conducted from July 10-14 using samples drawn from Norc’s probability-based Amerispeak panel designed to represent the US population. The margin for sampling errors across adults is either positive or negative 3.6 percentage points.
Sanders reported from Washington.
The Associated Press is supported by the Charles Schwab Foundation for education and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
Original issue: August 4, 2025, 7:34am EDT
