PRINCETON, N.J. (4/28/15)--Consumers' financial concerns aren't limited to one topic, and half of Americans have the same level of financial anxiety as last year, according to Gallup's annual Financial Worry survey.
The Gallup metric tracks the number--and severity--of financial challenges faced by consumers. Fifty percent of respondents identified themselves as being moderately to highly worried about three or more of the following seven indicators:
The number ticked up one point from 2014 (49%) but still sits lower than the 56%-61% seen from 2008 to 2012.
Having enough money for retirement is the most common worry, with 60% saying they are very or moderately worried about it. Roughly one-quarter are high worriers, citing six or seven of Gallup's indicators.
Seventy-two percent of households with an annual income of $30,000 or less are worried about three or more of the scenarios. The number of high worriers drops to 6% when household income rises above $75,000.
Although the level of anxiety is stable compared with last year, 52% of Americans reported their financial situation is getting better, according to additional numbers that came from Gallup's annual Economy and Personal Finance survey. Americans reported their financial situation was "getting better" at the highest level since 2004 in the April 9-12 survey.
"Americans' current levels of worry about seven fundamental indicators of financial health suggest they have still not fully recovered from the recession," Gallup noted.