Inflation, housing costs, and job uncertainty are leading Americans to rethink what success looks like — and what they're willing to sacrifice to achieve it.
Consumers now expect prices to rise 4.8% over the next year, up from 3.4% in February, and businesses and bond markets are signaling similar expectations.
Fewer than half of consumers say they feel financially stable, according to data from analytics company JD Power. But for consumers under 40, things look especially challenging.
Economists warn that as tax refund season ends and the war in Iran pushes prices higher across more categories, the long-running disconnect between how consumers feel and how they spend may finally start to close.
