As the new year approaches, more Americans have a brighter outlook for the state of their personal finances in 2025, a recent survey indicated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bankrate said Thursday\u00a0its survey<\/a> found that 44% of American adults expect to see their financial situation become either “somewhat” or “significantly better” next year, a 7 percentage-point increase from the roughly same time last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n The survey, conducted on the personal finance site\u2019s behalf by YouGov, took place Nov. 6, the day after the 2024 election, through Nov. 8 and involved nearly 2,500 American adults.\u00a0<\/p>\n NEARLY 60% OF AMERICANS SAY $100K INCOME REQUIRED TO CURB EXPENSES ANXIETY: STUDY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Less inflation was the most common driver behind the rosy outlooks<\/a>, with 36% of Americans pointing to that, according to the data.<\/p>\n The U.S. saw inflation<\/a> measured by the Consumer Price Index increase 0.3% month-over-month and 2.7% year-over-year in November, the government reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n Other factors played into positive financial expectations for 2025, the survey found.<\/p>\n For instance, over one-third of Americans that anticipate they will see better personal finances in 2025 reported “rising income” as helping guide their positive outlook. A slightly lower share (30%) pointed to “having less debt,” while “work done by elected representatives<\/a>” and “better spending habits” also factored into optimism for 25%.<\/p>\n A separate July survey from Discover Personal Loans had reported 80% of Americans were experiencing “some level” of anxiety stemming from finances.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Bankrate found Thursday that 33% of Americans foresee the state of their finances remaining as they currently are next year.\u00a0<\/p>\n Just shy of a quarter of Americans held gloomier expectations for their financial situations, reporting they anticipated things would become “somewhat” or “significantly worse,” the Bankrate survey showed.<\/p>\n US CREDIT CARDHOLDERS IN \u2018CRISIS\u2019 AS THEY FACE AN \u2018ADDITION\u2019 TO SPENDING, FINANCIAL EXPERT WARNS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Inflation also had the most weight for U.S. adults anticipating worsening finances. That was followed by “work done by elected representatives” cited by 30%, “stagnant or reduced income” cited by 28% and debt holdings by 20%, among other factors, according to Bankrate.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Post-election, our survey finds that some Americans see elected officials either as a reason why their finances might not improve (or why they will), affirming a continuing political divide. No matter where someone stands along the political spectrum, the opportunity remains for all to identify financial goals and to act upon them,” Mark Hamrick, a senior economic analyst at Bankrate, said in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n About 21% of Americans have their sights set on reducing their debt<\/a> in the coming year, the survey found.\u00a0<\/p>\n