26%
2025 (latest)
EXPECT TO BE BETTER OFF NEXT YEAR
percent expecting to be better off financially a year from now · 1978–2025 · higher is better · University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers, Table 8
27%
1978
43%
high · 2000
22%
low · 1979
−1.0 pts
since 1978
┊ dashed lines mark 1979 Oil shock & inflation peak · 1987 Black Monday crash · 1991 Gulf War recession · 2001 Dot-com bust & 9/11 · 2008 Global financial crisis · 2020 COVID-19 pandemic
Method & caveats. "Do you think that a year from now you will be better off financially, or worse off, or just about the same as now?" Annual figures as published by the Survey Research Center (monthly survey, ~500–1,000 interviews). The survey moved online through 2017–2024, which Michigan documents as a level effect.
Sources
Every value on this page is read from the publisher below. Current and historical source documents:
- https://data.sca.isr.umich.edu/tables.php
- https://data.sca.isr.umich.edu/data-archive/mine.php
- https://github.com/danielmiessler/substrate/tree/main/Data/US-Societal-Health
Data
| Year | Expect to Be Better Off Next Year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26% | −6.0 pts |
| 2024 | 32% | +3.0 pts |
| 2023 | 29% | +0.0 pts |
| 2022 | 29% | −4.0 pts |
| 2021 | 33% | −3.0 pts |
| 2020 | 36% | −5.0 pts |
| 2019 | 41% | +0.0 pts |
| 2018 | 41% | +2.0 pts |
| 2017 | 39% | +3.0 pts |
| 2016 | 36% | +1.0 pts |
| 2015 | 35% | +5.0 pts |
| 2014 | 30% | +3.0 pts |
| 2013 | 27% | +1.0 pts |
| 2012 | 26% | +3.0 pts |
| 2011 | 23% | −4.0 pts |
| 2010 | 27% | −2.0 pts |
| 2009 | 29% | +3.0 pts |
| 2008 | 26% | −7.0 pts |
| 2007 | 33% | −1.0 pts |
| 2006 | 34% | −2.0 pts |
| 2005 | 36% | −4.0 pts |
| 2004 | 40% | −1.0 pts |
| 2003 | 41% | −1.0 pts |
| 2002 | 42% | +2.0 pts |
| 2001 | 40% | −3.0 pts |
| 2000 | 43% | +1.0 pts |
| 1999 | 42% | +0.0 pts |
| 1998 | 42% | +0.0 pts |
| 1997 | 42% | +4.0 pts |
| 1996 | 38% | +2.0 pts |
| 1995 | 36% | −1.0 pts |
| 1994 | 37% | +3.0 pts |
| 1993 | 34% | −1.0 pts |
| 1992 | 35% | +1.0 pts |
| 1991 | 34% | +0.0 pts |
| 1990 | 34% | −4.0 pts |
| 1989 | 38% | +1.0 pts |
| 1988 | 37% | +2.0 pts |
| 1987 | 35% | −2.0 pts |
| 1986 | 37% | +2.0 pts |
| 1985 | 35% | −3.0 pts |
| 1984 | 38% | +1.0 pts |
| 1983 | 37% | +5.0 pts |
| 1982 | 32% | +2.0 pts |
| 1981 | 30% | +3.0 pts |
| 1980 | 27% | +5.0 pts |
| 1979 | 22% | −5.0 pts |
| 1978 | 27% | — |
Also in Happiness & Outlook