<\/p>\n
The economic story of post-pandemic America isn\u2019t one of clear recovery or continued decline \u2014 it\u2019s both at once.<\/p>\n
New tracking data from CivicScience reveals a country split down the middle when it comes to personal finances. As of 2026, about one in three U.S. adults say they\u2019re financially better off than they were before COVID-19. But nearly the same share says they\u2019re worse off, depicting an uneven and intensely personal recovery.<\/p>\n
Read:More personal finance articles by Nifty 50+<\/p>\n
Graphic by CivicScience<\/p>\n
A Nation Divided on Financial Progress<\/p>\n
The latest numbers suggest a kind of stalemate. Roughly 34% of Americans say they\u2019re doing better financially than before the pandemic, while another 34% say they\u2019re doing worse. About 32% say their situation hasn\u2019t changed. That balance didn\u2019t happen overnight. In 2022, many Americans were still finding their footing. At that point, 41% \u2014 the largest share \u2014 said their finances were about the same as before the pandemic while 32% reported being worse off. Just 27% said they were better off.<\/p>\n
By 2024, frustration appeared to peak. The share of Americans who said they were worse off climbed to 38%, while 31% reported improvement. Now, two years later, the data suggests some leveling out, but not necessarily a full recovery.<\/p>\n
Younger Americans See More Gains<\/p>\n
Who\u2019s benefiting from the rebound depends a lot on age.<\/p>\n
Among Gen Z adults, ages 18 to 29, optimism is highest. About 44% say they\u2019re better off financially than before the pandemic, while 28% say they\u2019re worse off and another 28% report no change.<\/p>\n
Millennials aren\u2019t far behind. Among those ages 30 to 44, 38% say they\u2019re better off, compared to 35% who say they\u2019re worse off and 27% who say things haven\u2019t changed. The picture shifts as Americans get older.<\/p>\n
For Gen X adults, ages 45 to 64, just 30% say they\u2019re better off. A larger share (39%) says they\u2019re worse off, while 32% say their finances are about the same. Among Baby Boomers, ages 65 and older, improvement is even less common. Only 27% say they\u2019re better off, while 32% report being worse off and 41% say their situation hasn\u2019t changed.<\/p>\n
Political Differences Shape Perception<\/p>\n
Political identity also appears to influence how Americans view their financial standing.<\/p>\n
Republicans are the most likely to say they\u2019ve come out ahead. Nearly half (47%) report being better off financially than before the pandemic. Another 31% say their situation hasn\u2019t changed, while 22% say they\u2019re worse off. <\/p>\n
Democrats are more evenly split. About 36% say they\u2019re better off, 35% say their finances are unchanged, and 29% report being worse off.<\/p>\n
Independents and those who identify with other affiliations are the most likely to say they\u2019re struggling. In that group, 41% report being worse off, compared to just 23% who say they\u2019re better off and 35% who say things are the same.<\/p>\n
An Unequal Recovery That Persists<\/p>\n
Taken together, the findings highlight just how uneven the pandemic\u2019s long-term economic impact has been.<\/p>\n
Younger Americans are more likely to feel like they\u2019ve gained ground, while older adults are more likely to report stagnation or decline. Political affiliation introduces another dimension, determining how people interpret their financial reality.<\/p>\n
CivicScience\u2019s data, based on large samples of U.S. adults collected through April 2026, indicates that although some Americans have regained \u2014 or even improved \u2014 their financial footing, many others continue to feel left behind.<\/p>\n
More than six years after the pandemic began, the numbers point to a recovery that has not reached everyone equally \u2014 and may not feel like a recovery at all, depending on who you ask.<\/p>\n
Related: After a \u2018gray divorce,\u2019 protect your money<\/p>\n
#Americas #financial #comeback #pandemic #uneven<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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