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The vast majority of U.S. adults are at least somewhat stressed about the cost of groceries, a new poll finds, as prices continue to rise and concerns about the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs remain widespread.
About half of all Americans say the cost of groceries is a “major” source of stress in their life right now, while 33% say it's a “minor” source of stress, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Only 14% say it's not a source of stress, underscoring the pervasive anxiety most Americans continue to feel about the cost of everyday essentials.
Other financial stressors — like the cost of housing or the amount of money in their bank accounts — are also broadly felt, but they weigh more heavily on younger Americans, who are less likely than older adults to have significant savings or own property.
The survey also found that about 4 in 10 Americans under age 45 say they've used what are known as “buy now, pay later” services when spending on entertainment or restaurant meals or when paying for essentials like groceries or medical care.
Groceries are one of the most far-reaching financial stressors, affecting the young and old alike, the poll finds. While Americans over age 60 are less likely than younger people to feel major financial anxiety about housing, their savings, child care, or credit card debt, they are just as worried about the cost of groceries.
According to the poll, 64% of the lowest-income Americans — those who have a household income of less than $30,000 a year — say the cost of groceries is a “major” stressor. That's compared with about 4 in 10 Americans who have a household income of $100,000 or more.
But even within that higher-income group, only about 2 in 10 say grocery costs aren't a worry at all.
Housing is another substantial source of worry for U.S. adults — along with their savings, their income and the cost of health care.
About half of U.S. adults say housing is a “major” source of stress, according to the poll, while about 4 in 10 say that about the amount of money they get paid, the amount of money they have saved and the cost of health care.
About 3 in 10 say credit card debt is a “major” source of stress, while about 2 in 10 say that about the cost of child care and student debt.
But some groups are feeling much more anxiety about their finances than others.
Women, for instance, are more likely than men to report high levels of stress about their income, savings, the cost of groceries and the cost of health care.
Hispanic adults are also particularly concerned about housing costs and both credit card and student debt.
About two-thirds of Hispanic adults say the cost of housing is a “major” source of stress, compared with about half of Black adults and about 4 in 10 white adults.
As they stretch limited budgets, about 3 in 10 U.S. adults overall say they've used “buy now, pay later” services such as Afterpay or Klarna to purchase groceries, entertainment, restaurant meals or meal delivery, or medical or dental care, according to the poll.
Younger Americans are much likelier than older people to have used pay-later plans for entertainment, groceries or restaurant meals, but there's no age gap on medical care. Black and Hispanic people are also especially likely to adopt the plans.
An increasing share of “buy now, pay later” customers are having trouble repaying their loans, according to recent disclosures from the lenders.
The loans are marketed as a safer alternative to traditional credit cards, but there are risks, including a lack of federal oversight. Some consumer watchdogs also say the plans lead consumers to overextend themselves financially.