Research & reference
Current, citable figures on household finances, savings, fraud, and tax filing. Last updated October 26, 2026.
This reference brings together recent primary-source figures that help put everyday financial conversations in context. It is intended for readers, writers, and community organizations looking for clear numbers they can cite.
Each statistic below links directly to its source. Figures describe nationwide data and are not a substitute for personal tax or financial advice.
73%
The Federal Reserve's 2024 household survey found that nearly three in four U.S. adults described their financial situation this way.
Source: Federal Reserve, Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024, May 202563%
This measure includes cash, savings, or a credit card paid off at the next statement. The share was unchanged from 2022 and 2023.
Source: Federal Reserve, Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024, May 202560%
In the 2024 survey, six in ten adults said changes in the prices they paid over the prior year had hurt their financial situation.
Source: Federal Reserve, Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024, May 202551%
The Federal Reserve reported that just over half of adults had this margin in their monthly budget, up from 48% in 2023.
Source: Federal Reserve, Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024, May 202535%
This was an improvement from 2022 and 2023, but below the 40% reported in 2021.
Source: Federal Reserve, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024 Fact Sheet, May 2025$63B
The Federal Reserve estimated total unrecovered losses after recovery efforts at $63 billion among consumers reporting this type of fraud in 2024.
Source: Federal Reserve, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024 Fact Sheet, May 202563%
The National Taxpayer Advocate reported approximately 104 million refunds, with an average refund of $3,167, from more than 165 million individual returns processed in 2025.
Source: IRS, National Taxpayer Advocate annual report release, January 2026We selected recent, public figures from the Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking and the Internal Revenue Service’s National Taxpayer Advocate reporting. The Federal Reserve data summarizes a survey fielded in October 2024. The tax filing figures summarize the 2025 filing season as reported in January 2026.
Last reviewed October 26, 2026. We will refresh this page when a key source publishes a newer annual report or when the figures above become outdated.
