Editorial Says 45.5% of U.S. Households Can't Afford Basics Under Trump and Congress
Updated
Updated · Las Vegas Sun · Jun 4
Editorial Says 45.5% of U.S. Households Can't Afford Basics Under Trump and Congress
1 articles · Updated · Las Vegas Sun · Jun 4
Summary
45.5% of U.S. households in 2024 lacked enough income for basics including housing, food, healthcare and childcare, according to a Brookings Institution report cited by the editorial.
The piece argues costs have outrun wages for years: health insurance premiums have risen three times faster than median household income since 2000, while daycare costs have climbed at nearly twice the pace.
Housing illustrates the squeeze most sharply: only 3% of major U.S. metros now have average home prices below three times median income, down from more than 75% about 25 years ago.
The editorial says Trump has worsened the strain through tariffs and the Iran war while showing indifference to family finances, and faults congressional Republicans for offering little restraint despite holding power.
It adds that Democrats also lack a clear affordability agenda, arguing Washington-wide political posturing has displaced policy as 76% of Americans cite cost of living as their top economic concern.
Is the American dream of homeownership being replaced by a lifetime of renting?
When basic costs outpace wages for decades, what fundamental economic shift is truly required?
44% of American Households Face Unaffordable Living Costs: Causes, Consequences, and Policy Solutions (2026)
Overview
As of June 2026, nearly half of U.S. households—about 57 million families—cannot afford basic necessities like housing, food, child care, health care, and transportation. This crisis is driven by a 20% surge in the cost of living between 2019 and 2021, while wages for most hourly jobs failed to keep up. Persistent inflation and ongoing economic pressures have made things worse since 2021. The burden is especially heavy for households of color, with Black and Hispanic families much more likely to struggle than white families. These trends highlight deep and growing financial insecurity across the nation.