The Deliberate Financial Trade-Offs Defining the 55+ Consumer Heading Into Summer 2026

Elevated gas prices have been a source of stress for the average American. But it’s not just gas prices that are causing uneasiness among Americans – 61% of U.S. adults tell CivicScience they are ‘very’ concerned about inflation overall. This severe concern is even more pronounced among Americans aged 55 and older, with two-thirds reporting severe concern through the end of May. While this heightened anxiety has fluctuated over the past several years, the gap between older Americans and the broader public has persisted, suggesting that this demographic is absorbing the current economic climate with particular intensity.