According to Pew Research Center's analysis of government data, roughly 49% of Americans do not fall into the middle-income category, and the share of middle-class households fell from about 61% in 1971 to 51%. Pew defines middle class as household income between two-thirds and double the U.S. median; with the current median of $87,460, that range is about $57,723 to $174,920. A National Foundation for Credit Counseling survey found 53% of adults feel they cannot make financial progress and 48% say they are constantly treading water. Total U.S. consumer debt reached $18.8 trillion in the second quarter of 2026, including $1.26 trillion in credit card balances and $1.71 trillion in auto loans, while the share of families with a debt-to-income ratio above 40% rose from 6.5% to 8.6%. The article advises tracking spending and comparing insurance quotes, noting the average American spends about $2,441 a year on full-coverage auto insurance.
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