Inflation remains one of their top concerns for Americans heading into 2023, according to a new WalletHub survey.
According to the Consumer Price Index, prices of a range of goods and services have increased by more than 7% since November 2021. Nearly one in three respondents from the Wallethub survey said they planned on making New Year’s resolutions focused on spending less in the new year.
The Federal Reserve has tried to lower inflationary price increases by raising interest rates throughout 2022, but this has caused higher unemployment and renewed fears the U.S. is heading into a recession. The Federal Reserve projects inflation for 2023 to be around 3% compared to its earlier target of 2%, affecting the cost of goods.
According to the survey, nearly 30% of the Wallethub respondents think 2023 will be worse for their finances than 2022. Almost half of the respondents said they were anxious about their future financial situation.
Jill Gonzalez, an analyst for Wallethub, told The Center Square that inflation is affecting Americans because they can afford less. These ramifications can be seen in Christmas shopping, where more than 50% of respondents in an earlier Wallethub survey said they would spend less during Christmas.
“50% of respondents said inflation is their biggest financial concern for 2023,” Gonzales said. “The same survey found that 77% of Americans plan to spend less money on New Year’s plans this year compared to last year.”
The results of the survey show concerns that the U.S. might be headed toward a recession, according to Gonzales.
“They are also worried about their financial well-being,” Gonzales said. “Most Americans are anxious about the future of their finances, and we hope that they will be focused on learning more about personal finance in the new year. According to the survey, people will be more cautious with their finances in 2023 and save and invest more while spending less.”
As Americans look toward an uncertain financial future, many are creating New Year’s resolutions to help guide their saving habits, Gonzales said. Among some of these is building a robust savings fund and paying off credit card debt.
Almost 43% of respondents said they would keep their financial New Year’s resolution for the entire year. This shows a higher level of commitment toward financial resolutions, according to Gonzales.
“The top recommendation for keeping a New Year’s resolution is to set tangible and doable goals,” Gonzales said. “Break your resolution into smaller tasks you can commit to each month or week. Be consistent, hold yourself accountable, and focus your energy on the things that will bring you closer to achieving your goal.”
The survey collected more than 380 responses from a sample representative of the U.S. population by age and gender through SurveyMonkey.