Most Americans losing sleep over money stress, study finds

Inflation slowed more than expected in April

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the annual inflation rate was the lowest since February 2021. LiveNOW's Austin Westfall spoke with Jason Greer about the cooler-than-expected inflation report for April.

A new study has revealed that most Americans are losing sleep, worried about their cost-of-living finances dur to economic pressures. 

AffordableHousingHub.org surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults to better understand how inflation, housing instability, and news reports impact mental health and daily life.

Dig deeper:

According to the study, half of Gen Z said they often feel emotionally overwhelmed either frequently or all the time. 

For women, one in three said that keeping up with the news leaves them feeling drained. 

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The study also found political differences in emotional responses, with Democrats and Independents more likely than Republicans to express feelings of hopelessness—revealing a divide in how various groups cope with national issues.

By the numbers:

Single adults reported greater financial stress compared to their married counterparts. In fact, they were 41% more likely to say that money problems weighed heavily on them, indicating that emotional resilience may be influenced by the presence of personal support systems.

Around 53% of Americans said financial stress has disrupted their sleep. Over a third reported an impact on their emotional well-being, and one in five said it has strained their personal relationships.

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Nearly half of respondents — 46% — said they’ve relied on credit cards to cover essentials like food, gas, or utility bills. This approach is even more widespread among younger women, with 56% of Gen Z and 51% of Millennial women reporting they’ve used credit just to make ends meet.

What they're saying:

"As economic pressures mount, many Americans are losing the emotional bandwidth to keep up," researchers said.  "For housing advocates and policymakers, this growing fatigue signals an urgent need: support systems must be emotionally accessible, not just financially sound."

(Photo by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)

How tariffs could impact inflation, economy 

Why you should care:

The latest figures show inflation is still declining from its post-pandemic spike, which reached the highest level in four decades in July 2022. 

Economists and some business executives have warned that prices will likely head higher as Trump’s widespread tariffs take effect, though the timing and impact of those duties are now in doubt after they were struck down late Wednesday in court.

President Trump announces double tariffs on steel

President Trump announced Friday that he is doubling tariffs on steel imports from 25 percent to 50 percent. The announcement came during a rally at a steel plant in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.

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The inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve said at their most recent meeting May 6-7 that inflation is still elevated, compared to their target of 2%. Fed officials, who focus more on core prices, broadly support keeping their key interest rate steady while they evaluate the impact of the tariffs on inflation and jobs.