Making ends meet is a concern for one-third of U.S. consumers, even those making $100,000 or more a year, according to a survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. This is up from 28.7% a year ago.

Among those able to pay their bills in full, more than a quarter worry they will be able to continue to cover their bills in the next six months, up from one-fifth a year ago. Thirty percent of those making $150,000 or more are concerned about their finances in the next six months.

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Across the full sample of the 5,000 people surveyed from March 22 to April 6, half of all respondents experienced a financial disruption in the past 12 months — with a significant portion coming from a nonmedical expense. In fact, 16.7% reported an unexpected increase in housing costs.

Nearly one-quarter, 22.5%, said they couldn't pay any or some of their bills in April, up 2.7 percentage points from a year earlier. Among the more affluent, those making $150,000 or more, 6.9% were unable to cover all of their bills, just over twice as many from 3.4% a year ago.

To cope with the increased financial stress of the past year, more than two-thirds of respondents took some kind of remedial action. This includes 43.1% cutting back on discretionary spending, and 23.5% even cutting back on essentials.

Nearly one-third, 32.1%, have borrowed money as a direct result of added financial stress; this includes 18.0% borrowing from friends and family, and 14.1% taking out loans from formal lending markets.

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A sizable portion of respondents, 15.8%, have paid less or skipped monthly debts, and 13.1% have taken a second job.

More than 14% of those earning $150,000 or more withdrew money from their retirement savings.

Respondents in April 2024 were less positive overall about their income prospects than they were in January 2024.