Hear from Des Moines gas station customers about rising gas prices
Hear Iowans filling up at gas stations around Des Moines talk about rising fuel costs.
How is the U.S. economy treating you?
The answer probably depends on your age, industry, location, debt, and assets. For some people, including high-income earners who account for the lion’s share of consumer spending, that reaction may seem “great” or even “wonderful.” For others, such as those who find themselves unemployed in a weak job market or workers who have seen prices rise faster than their paychecks, the answer may be “struggling to make ends meet.”
USA TODAY reporters are asking readers to take the short survey below to better understand what your financial situation is like in your daily life and what issues concern you most.
Affordability concerns are starting to show up in the data. The University of Michigan’s Consumer Confidence Index, which tracks how Americans feel about their personal finances, inflation and the economy as a whole, fell 11% to a record low of 47.6 earlier this month.
USA TODAY reporters talk to experts, economists and officials to help you understand this and other key economic indicators, but we know we don’t necessarily tell you everything.
The U.S. economy added an estimated 178,000 jobs in March, according to Labor Department estimates, but that number may mean little to those looking for jobs in industries that will be heavily impacted by AI adoption, as most of the growth was concentrated in sectors such as health care. A national average of more than $4 for a gallon of gas probably makes more sense for Americans who drive an hour to work each day than for commuters who rely on public transportation.
To best capture these nuances, USA TODAY reporters want to hear directly from you. Whether you’re in the best or worst financial situation in recent years, we encourage you to take the survey below. Survey responses may be used in future USA TODAY articles, but names will not be published unless USA TODAY receives explicit permission from respondents.
Contact Rachel Barber at rbarber@usatoday.com and follow her at X @rachelbarber_
