AP: Most Americans are Stressed About Grocery Costs

The survey also found that 4 in 10 Americans under age 45 have used buy now, pay later services.

August 06, 2025

The vast majority of U.S. adults are at least somewhat stressed about the cost of groceries, a new poll finds, The Associated Press reported.

“About half of all Americans say the cost of groceries is a ‘major’ source of stress in their life right now, while 33% say it’s a ‘minor’ source of stress, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Only 14% say it’s not a source of stress, underscoring the pervasive anxiety most Americans continue to feel about the cost of everyday essentials,” wrote AP.

Groceries are one of the most far-reaching financial stressors, concerning both the young and old, the poll found.

According to the poll, 64% of the lowest-income Americans (those who have a household income of less than $30,000 a year) said the cost of groceries is a “major” stressor. That’s compared with about 4 in 10 Americans who have a household income of $100,000 or more.

The survey also found that “about 4 in 10 Americans under age 45 say they’ve used what are known as ‘buy now, pay later’ services when spending on entertainment or restaurant meals or when paying for essentials like groceries or medical care.”

But some groups are “feeling much more anxiety about their finances than others. Women, for instance, are more likely than men to report high levels of stress about their income, savings, the cost of groceries and the cost of health care. Hispanic adults are also particularly concerned about housing costs and both credit card and student debt,” AP wrote.

Meanwhile, younger Americans said the cost of housing and the amount of money in their bank accounts were weighing heavily on them.

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