Senior Advisor and Research Fellow, Consumer Finance Institute
August 2026
This report is part of a quarterly series on key observations from the Labor, Income, Finances, and Expectations (LIFE) Survey. Data from the survey provide insight into consumers’ recent financial lives and their future expectations.
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Results from the July 2026 LIFE Survey reveal several key observations about consumers’ financial lives over the past 12 months, including:
Net optimism about income is higher in July 2026 than it was one year earlier, returning to levels similar to those we saw in 2023 and 2024.
Employed respondents expressed higher levels of concern about their employment, particularly finding/keeping childcare and finding/keeping elder care.
The proportion of respondents reporting specific financial disruptions has decreased for the last four quarters and is currently at its lowest point since early 2023.
Respondents’ net sentiment improved in July 2026 compared with April 2026 but remains negative across all demographic groups.
Download expanded data tables featured in the July 2026 LIFE Survey Data Report here.
