If you are curious what parts of the country are doing better — or worse — financially than others, or if you are looking for a data source to help you develop collection strategies, the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey might be worth a look. For example, the survey includes data on individuals who are having difficulty paying for household expenses, and breaks it down on a state-by-state and metropolitan statistical area basis.
Looking at the data, it’s clear that the area of the country that is in the worst shape financially is the Southern United States. Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, and Oklahoma all rank in the top 10 for states with the highest percentage of households that are unable to pay for everyday expenses. Nearly half of all households in Mississippi are struggling, according to the survey.
On the other side of the coin, Vermont, the District of Columbia, and Minnesota are the three states with the lowest percentages of households in distress. Just 19% of households in DC are struggling, according to the survey.
The survey also asks households about the state of their energy bills. Nationwide, nearly one-in-four households are unable to pay their energy bills. The states with the highest percentages were West Virginia (31.3%), Connecticut (30.5%), and Mississippi (29.7%).
Overall, about 37% of households are unable to pay for everyday expenses, according to the Census Bureau data.
The survey also tracks individuals that are concerned about price increases in the future, the impact of the cost of gas on driving behavior, food scarcity, and those with feelings of loneliness
