
Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
Yes.
Three national polls done in 2024 found nearly two-thirds of Americans said they are living paycheck to paycheck.
That means 66% said they spend as much as they earn each month, making it difficult to save for the future, a MarketWatch Guides survey found.
The figure was 65% in a poll by CNBC and SurveyMonkey and 65% in a PYMNTS Intelligence report.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin claimed July 16, 2024, at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee that under President Joe Biden, “66% of Americans now live paycheck to paycheck.”
Similar 2024 polls found lower percentages.
58% of registered voters in a NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll said they are living paycheck to paycheck.
40% of Americans said they are unable to plan beyond their next paycheck, according to a National True Cost of Living Coalition-commissioned poll.
A Bankrate poll of workers found 34% said they are living paycheck to paycheck.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
MarketWatch: Paycheck to Paycheck Statistics
CNBC: More Americans say they are living paycheck to paycheck this year than in 2023—here’s why
PYMNTS: Emergency Expenses Break the Bank for Paycheck-to-Paycheck Consumers
WRIC ABC 8News: Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee
National True Cost of Living Coalition: For Immediate Release — National True Cost of Living Coalition
NewsNation: Voters on the economy, presidential debates and RFK: Full results
Bankrate: More Than A Third of Workers Say They’re Living Paycheck To Paycheck

