Financial Stress Continues To Plague Americans

The deviation of the Investor's Business Daily/TIPP Financial Stress Index from its historical average is worse for 35 of the 36 demographic segments we track in our latest poll, demonstrating the severity of the situation.

New virus strains, persistent inflation, vaccine mandates, tax hike talk, and job insecurity exacerbate financial stress.

The end of pandemic financial assistance, such as unemployment benefits, mortgage forbearance, and eviction relief, may also contribute to financial stress for many Americans.

The Investor's Business Daily/TIPP Financial Stress Index increased for the fourth month in a row by 1.3 points, or 2.1%, from 61.9 in July to 63.2 in August. The index has risen by 6.4 points, or 11.2 percent, in the four months since April.

This month's reading of 63.2 is above the index's three-month moving average of 61.4, reflecting the underlying negative momentum.