The American Dream Makes A Comeback For The Middle Class

MADISON, Wis. – Despite challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting recession, the middle class is displaying heightened optimism and confidence in their financial security and retirement prospects – even though their savings remain strained, according to new survey data from CUNA Mutual Group.

When asked to grade the middle class’s ability to achieve the American Dream, respondents gave a B-minus, higher than March and May of 2020, when the average grade was a C-plus, as well as May 2019, when the average grade was a C. Further, confidence in their personal economic position has risen. Specifically:

 

• 71% report feeling very or somewhat confident, higher than in March and May of 2020 (63%), as well as May 2019 (61%).
• Outlooks on retirement have also gotten more positive – 89% of respondents expect to retire in their lifetime, slightly up from the 87% reported in May 2020.
• Those who expected to retire prior to turning 65 rose from 30% in May 2020, to 39% in April 2021.

 

Additionally, respondents revealed that although the COVID-19 pandemic had doled out a notable hit, the impact was perhaps not as much as anticipated a year ago:

 

• More than half (57%) experienced setbacks as a result of the pandemic, with 35% reporting setbacks to their physical or mental health.
• At the same time, 30% of respondents said the pandemic decreased their financial stability, down from 38% in May 2020.
• Nearly three quarters (72%) said their job is equally or more stable than a year ago.

 

Importantly, however, even though the middle class is feeling more financially secure, their personal safety nets still tell a different story. Nearly half (45%) have only three months or less of emergency savings, which is in line with May 2020 (47%).

“While it’s encouraging to see rising optimism among the middle class, especially after a year of unprecedented loss and financial difficulty, it’s apparent that the gap between awareness and preparedness is growing only starker,” said Paul Chong, senior vice president, CUNA Mutual Group. “This further underscores that the retirement crisis is still very real and stands to worsen coming out of the pandemic. It’s more important than ever for the financial services industry to focus on how to better address the long-term planning needs of all hardworking Americans.”

 

Reality Bites Or The Kids Are All Right?

 Data also showed that Gen X was consistently more skeptical than other generational groups about their own financial prospects – but also on how much the pandemic has set them back – while the opposite phenomenon was reported by Gen Z. Specifically:

 

 

	Gen X	Gen Z	Millennials	Baby Boomers
% with three months or less in emergency savings	65%	35%	48%	35%
% feeling somewhat less or not very confident in their economic position	44%	20%	24%	26%
% experiencing setbacks as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic	59%	83%	75%	38%
% experiencing physical or mental health setbacks as a result of the pandemic	38%	47%	45%	25%
Plurality grade on the middle class’s ability to achieve the American Dream	C	B	B	B

 

Latinx Feels Positive About The Future Of The Middle Class

 

The Latinx middle class – particularly Latinx women – are more optimistic about the middle class’s ability to achieve the American Dream, but report less financial confidence and more challenges than other groups as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of note:

 

• 62% of Latinx respondents gave an A or B grade, higher than the general population (49%), led by Latinx women, who were the most positive out of all racial and gender demographic groups (65%).
  • However, when asked about their personal ability to achieve the American Dream, Latinx women were notably lower compared to Latinx men (66% versus 71%).
• However, Latinx respondents were the most likely to report experiencing setbacks from the pandemic (80% vs. 57% of the general population), with over half (51%) saying they experienced setbacks to their mental or physical health – notably more than the general population (35%).
• Latinx fared the worst out of all racial demographic groups on emergency savings – 50% reported having three months or less, compared to 45% of the general population, led by 53% of Latinx women.

 

“The disparities we’re seeing among from the Latinx middle class on key indicators of financial stability is concerning, though unfortunately, not surprising given how widespread economic inequality has been – and continues to be – for communities of color,” said Steve Rick, chief economist, CUNA Mutual Group. “Especially given how impacted the Latinx community has been by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is absolutely paramount that steps are taken holistically across our economy to not only bridge the K-shaped recovery that has started to emerge, but to ensure more equitable access to financial security for all in the future.”

 

 

Methodology

 

Based on findings from a general population survey conducted by ENGINE INSIGHTS on April 14-18, 2021, assessing 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 or older and making an annual income between $35,000 and $99,999 – and an oversampling conducted April 19-22 surveying 800 Black and Hispanic men and women ages 18 or older and making an annual income between $35,000 and $99,999