A new Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos survey finds that many Americans feel they can cover today’s basics but still can’t reach the milestones that define “getting ahead”—especially buying a home and purchasing a new car. The poll paints a picture of an economy where the stock market and consumer spending may look steady, yet households say affordability has become the barrier that blocks upward mobility and even routine comfort.
One of the clearest findings is how widely people view major purchases as unattainable. Roughly three-quarters (74%) say a new car is unaffordable for their household, reflecting how vehicle prices, financing, and insurance costs have stayed elevated even as some other expenses fluctuate. Majorities also call a weeklong vacation (60%) and health care (56%) unaffordable, signaling that “optional” spending and even essential services are being treated as luxuries by many families.
Housing emerges as the biggest long-term concern. About two-thirds of Americans who don’t own a home say they do not think they’ll be able to afford to buy one in the foreseeable future—a striking measure of pessimism about a core wealth-building pathway. The doubt is especially pronounced among renters: 65% of renters say homeownership is out of reach, and this skepticism extends even into higher-income groups, including some households earning six figures.
At the same time, the poll suggests many people are barely maintaining their current standard of living rather than improving it. A slim majority—53%—say they have “just enough” money to maintain their standard of living, implying limited cushion for emergencies or big goals. Nearly half (46%) report having at least “some” debt, including 15% who say they have “a lot” of debt (such as credit cards, medical bills, auto loans, or student debt), reinforcing the sense that households are patching gaps rather than building stability.
The poll also finds differences by age, gender, and politics. Women are more likely than men to say several everyday items are unaffordable, and adults under 50 are more likely than older Americans to describe each item tested as unaffordable—consistent with a housing market that has become most punishing for younger would-be first-time buyers. Partisan gaps show up too: Democrats and independents are more likely than Republicans to rate the same items as unaffordable, suggesting perceptions of prices and “how the economy feels” are filtered through political experience as well as household budgets.
Overall, the story’s bottom line is psychological as much as financial: many Americans don’t describe a collapse—they describe stagnation. They can often pay rent or a mortgage, groceries, and utilities, but they increasingly believe that the next rung (a home, a reliable new car, a real vacation, predictable health costs) is slipping away, shaping both personal decisions and the politics of affordability going into 2026.
