Americans Forced to Make Daily Financial Decisions Amid Rising Prices

Study finds 1 in 3 Americans are making financial choices every day due to high costs of housing, groceries, and gas.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:36pm

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A minimalist illustration using bold geometric shapes and primary colors to conceptually represent the financial pressures facing Americans due to increased pricing across various sectors of the economy.As inflation and the cost of living continue to rise, Americans are forced to make daily financial choices to manage their budgets.Today in Dayton

A new study by KeyBank found that 88% of Americans have made at least one meaningful change to their financial behavior due to increased prices across various sectors, including housing, groceries, and gas. The most common adjustments include canceling subscriptions, drawing from emergency savings, and considering or making moves to new living situations.

Why it matters

The financial pressures facing Americans are forcing many to make daily decisions about their spending and savings in order to keep up with rising costs of living. This trend highlights the strain high inflation is placing on household budgets and the need for proactive financial planning to weather the economic uncertainty.

The details

The KeyBank study found that 1 in 3 Americans say they are making financial decisions every day in response to increased prices. Common changes include canceling subscriptions, using emergency savings, and considering or making moves to new living situations. Financial experts encourage a shift from reactive budgeting to proactive planning, working with banks to create personalized financial plans to achieve goals.

  • The KeyBank study was conducted in 2026.

The players

KeyBank

A major U.S. bank that conducted a study on the financial pressures facing Americans due to increased prices.

Ion Dogoter

A Montgomery County resident who has experienced rising costs for insurance, food, tires, and oil changes.

Stacy Radabaugh

The Midwest Regional Retail Leader for KeyBank, who provided insights on the study's findings.

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What they’re saying

“Times are tough. Costs are higher, but what we're encouraged by is people taking that proactive step forward.”

— Stacy Radabaugh, Midwest Regional Retail Leader, KeyBank

“Insurance increase, price for food, for everything, for tires, for oil change, like we pay for everything.”

— Ion Dogoter, Montgomery County Resident

The takeaway

The financial strain facing Americans due to high inflation is forcing many to make daily decisions about their spending and savings, highlighting the need for proactive financial planning and budgeting to weather the economic uncertainty.