Americans prioritize necessities and health care over stock market concerns

IBR Staff//August 6, 2026//

A recent Pew study showed what U.S. residents thought of the current economy. (PHOTO: DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM)

IBR Staff//August 6, 2026//

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Americans are putting more stock in their concerns for maintaining daily living standards of paying for food, medical care and housing than they are in how well the stock market performs.

At a Glance:

Pew Research finds 69% very concerned about medical costs
66% of Americans very concerned about food prices
Only 18% very concerned about stock market performance

A recent Pew Research Study of more than 3,500 American adults found more than two-thirds (69%) of those polled are “very concerned” about medical costs, while 66% feel the same about prices of food and consumer goods. Another 64% revealed housing costs as their major concern.

Another key finding showed 60% of respondents feel that President Trump‘s policies were “making the economy worse.” Additionally, about one-quarter (24%) rate economic conditions nationally as “excellent” or “good,” with 41% believing conditions to be “fair” and 35% describing them as “poor.”

However, a partisan divide was also shown with 89% of Democrats taking the negative view, compared to only 28% of Republicans.

Similarly, the poll did indicate increasing economic dissatisfaction among Republicans, with only 42% feeling the current administration is making improvements in the economy. As of January of this year, and prior to the current war in Iran, that figure stood at 57%.

Unemployment concerns also factored into the poll, with 57% of Democrats feeling “very concerned,” with roughly half of Republicans (29%) agreeing when discussing job concerns.

When it comes to owning stock, the poll showed only 62% of those asked were stock owners as of last year. This figure has remained highly consistent over the past three decades, according to a Gallup poll.

Asked about stock performances, only 18% expressed feeling “very concerned” about the overall performance of the market.