Despite economic growth and low unemployment over the past decade, the divide between the haves and the haves-not shows no signs of narrowing, according to research from the Finra Investor Education Foundation.
The research also indicated that cash-strapped Americans are failing to save money, struggling with student loan debt and facing decreasing financial literacy.
The study, "The State of U.S. Financial Capability," found that although all demographic groups have improved relative to 2009 in their ability to cover monthly expenses and bills, certain groups such as younger Americans, those with lower incomes and African-Americans have not been able to keep up with older Americans, those with higher incomes, and other ethnicities.
The nationwide survey, conducted by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority every three years, includes more than 27,000 respondents. It is one of the largest and most comprehensive financial capability studies in the U.S. Originally developed in 2009, it measures key indicators of financial capability and evaluates how these indicators vary with underlying demographic, behavioral, attitudinal and financial literacy characteristics — both nationwide and state-by-state, Finra explained.
The survey showed that despite being able to make ends meet there has not been an increase in the number of Americans’ saving. Nearly half of Americans have not set aside money to cover expenses for three months.
Moreover, Americans are stressed about money. More than half (53 percent) of respondents surveyed reported that just thinking about their finances makes them feel anxious. Forty-four percent agree that discussing their finances is stressful.
Women, younger respondents, those with financially dependent children, and non-retired respondents are more likely to experience stress over their personal finances, the survey said.
Among ethnic groups, Hispanic respondents are the most likely to feel anxious (59 percent) thinking about finances, and 50 percent feel stressed discussing, their finances.
White respondents are the least likely to agree that they get anxious (51 percent) or stressed (41 percent) about discussing their finances.
The study also revealed that across gender groups with marital status, single women are the most likely to feel anxious or stressed about their finances, followed by married women, single men, and married men.