The data presented in the January 2026 LIFE Survey Report show less optimism about income for the coming year along with continued negative sentiment compared with last year. We note several key observations about consumers’ financial lives over the past 12 months, including:

  • Net optimism about income entering 2026 is lower than in the past two years, returning to the level last seen in January 2023.
  • A higher share of respondents reported unexpected healthcare expenses and lost access to benefits programs over the past 12 months compared with January of last year; cutbacks in both discretionary and essential spending — and paying less or skipping bills — were also more common than last year.
  • Concerns about making ends meet in the next six months decreased between October 2025 and January 2026, primarily among older respondents.
  • Net sentiment improved slightly compared with October 2025 but remains negative across all demographic groups.

Download expanded data tables featured in the January 2025 LIFE Survey Data Report here.

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