April 28, 2026 / 2:24 PM EDT / CBS News

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A record 55% of Americans say their financial situation is worsening, with many expressing anxiety about covering monthly bills and making minimum credit card payments, according to a new Gallup poll.

That percentage is the highest Gallup has recorded since it began asking Americans about their finances in 2001, showing consumers are less optimistic than they were during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the Great Recession in 2008. The survey is based on interviews with 1,001 adults conducted April 1-15, Gallup said.

Although surging gasoline prices since the start of the Iran war in February have fueled public frustration, Gallup's polling underscores that affordability concerns have been building for years, including longstanding issues such as the rising cost of health care and education.

"Overall, affordability concerns dominate this year's list, with combined mentions of inflation, energy, housing and health care costs — along with…