Lower-income families are feeling the strain most, but higher earners aren't immune
Economic anxiety is reshaping American spending habits, with 44% of workers delaying or canceling major purchases like homes and cars due to concerns about job security, according to a new survey from real estate brokerage Redfin.
The nationally representative survey, conducted by Ipsos in mid-August, polled 1,142 employed US residents and reveals a workforce grappling with economic uncertainty despite relatively low unemployment rates.
Lower-income households are bearing the brunt of this cautious spending behavior. Nearly three in five workers from households earning less than $50,000 are postponing major purchases, compared to just 35% of those earning $100,000 or more. Working renters are particularly affected, with 49% delaying purchases—nearly double the rate of working homeowners at 27%.
“Many workers are worried about job security as they watch their companies adjust to this uncertain economy and increasingly look to AI and other new technologies for efficiency gains,” said Chen Zhao, Redfin’s head of economics research.
The survey found that while two-thirds of workers express confidence in their job security, 37% are more concerned today than they were six months ago. Among those worried about their jobs, company performance topped the list of concerns at 32%, followed by potential tariff impacts at 17% and artificial intelligence disruption at 16%.
Financial preparedness appears lacking across income levels. More than one-third of American workers lack an emergency fund to cover monthly housing payments if they face a financial crisis. This gap is most pronounced among lower earners, with only 37% of households making less than $50,000 having emergency savings, compared to 68% of those earning over $100,000.
Even among workers with emergency funds, financial cushions remain thin. Nearly one-third have savings covering just zero to three months of housing payments, falling short of the three-to-six-month emergency fund typically recommended by financial experts.
The housing market implications are significant. Zhao noted that buyer wariness is creating opportunities for confident purchasers, who face less competition and have greater negotiating power. However, she warned sellers to price competitively and offer flexibility to attract cautious buyers.
Interestingly, 30% of workers reported the opposite behavior—making or planning major purchases sooner than expected due to their job security feelings, suggesting the economic anxiety is driving mixed responses across the workforce.
The survey underscores how perception often outweighs reality in economic decision-making, with worker sentiment reflecting broader concerns about technological disruption and economic volatility despite official unemployment sitting at a historically reasonable 4.2%.
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