Shifting Views Among Young Adults: Changes in Financial Security and Economic Outlook

The results show that since January 2025 there has been a significant decrease in respondents' perceptions of their financial security and forward-looking general sentiment; in particular, this decline was relatively larger for young adults (ages 18-35). The most frequently cited reasons why young adults said they feel less financially secure were low financial resources, affordability concerns, and employment concerns. Older adults were more likely to reference affordability concerns and broader concerns about the economy or politics as reasons why they feel less financially secure. While young adults in the past were the most optimistic age group regarding their expectations for the future prices of food, gas, and rent along with the trajectory of unemployment and mortgage rates, this observation seems to have reversed since 2025.