Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households
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.