Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking

Adults who are able to pay current month's bills in full

Percent

Year All adults
2016 76
2017 78
2018 82
2019 84
2020 83
2021 86
2022 82

Note: Among all adults. The question wording changed in 2018. This may have contributed to the increases from 2017.

Adults who can pay all bills in full this month, by education

Percent

Characteristic 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Less than a high school degree 57 59 69 71 62 68 62
High school degree or GED 71 73 77 77 79 81 76
Some college / technical or associate degree 76 75 80 81 81 84 78
Bachelor's degree or more 86 88 91 92 93 95 92

Note: Among all adults. The question wording changed in 2018. This may have contributed to the increases from 2017.

Adults who can pay all bills in full this month, by race/ethnicity

Percent

Characteristic 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Asian 88 81 87 88 89 93 88
Black 66 64 69 71 68 75 70
Hispanic 64 68 74 76 76 80 73
White 79 82 86 88 88 90 86

Note: Among all adults. The question wording changed in 2018. This may have contributed to the increases from 2017.

Adults who can pay all bills in full this month, by metro/non-metro status

Percent

Characteristic 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Non-metro 77 77 80 83 83 84 79
Metro 76 78 82 84 84 86 82

Note: Among all adults. The question wording changed in 2018. This may have contributed to the increases from 2017.

Adults who can pay all bills in full this month, by parental status

Percent

Characteristic 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Parents living with own children under age 18 71 71 78 78 77 82 76
All other adults 78 80 84 86 86 88 83

Note: Among all adults. The question wording changed in 2018. This may have contributed to the increases from 2017.

Last Update: May 22, 2023
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