Operation HOPE’s Latest HOPE Insider Survey Reveals More Than Three-Quarters of Respondents Say the Economy Is Not Working for Them

HOPE Clients Report Facing Challenges Covering Multiple Essential Expenses While Remaining Optimistic About Their Financial Future Through Coaching and Planning

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Operation HOPE, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping low- and moderate-income Americans thrive in an ever-changing economy, today released findings from its second quarter 2026 HOPE Insider survey, revealing that rising costs of everyday goods continue to strain household finances, forcing many to make difficult decisions between essential expenses. The quarterly nationwide survey of nearly 1,500 Operation HOPE clients also underscores the important role financial coaching is playing as families seek practical strategies to navigate ongoing economic uncertainty.

Key Second Quarter 2026 Findings:

1. The economy is falling short for many Americans

• More than three-quarters (77%) of respondents said the current economy is not working for people like themselves
• Four in 10 (40%) reported being worse off financially than a year ago, while half (50%) said their personal debt increased over the past three months
• As a result, half of respondents reported they are unable to make ends meet each month

2. A vast majority of respondents has had to choose between essential expenses

• Nearly three-quarters (72%) of respondents said they had to choose between paying for one essential expense over another—such as food or gas—during the past three months, with nearly 40% saying they faced those tradeoffs frequently
• Meanwhile, 76% reported living paycheck to paycheck
• The cost of everyday necessities, including groceries, clothing and gasoline, was identified as the factor having the greatest impact on respondents' lives, increasing seven percentage points from the previous quarter to 46%

3. Job satisfaction continues to decline

• Job satisfaction among respondents fell from 50% last quarter to 44%, reflecting continued concerns that wages are not keeping pace with the rising cost of living
• Despite these challenges, 82% remain optimistic that their careers or work situations will improve over the next year

4. Respondents are seeking new income opportunities

• As financial pressures mount, more clients are exploring entrepreneurship and other ways to supplement household income
• 27% of respondents said they considered starting a small business but ultimately decided against it—the highest level recorded since the survey launched more than two years ago—primarily because of limited capital, economic uncertainty or concerns about customer demand
• At the same time, a record 17% reported successfully starting a small business during the quarter
• Additionally, 44% accessed retirement savings through loans or early withdrawals to help manage financial needs

5. Financial security is low, but optimism is undeterred

• While only 36% of respondents said they feel secure about their financial future, 82% remain hopeful their financial wellbeing will improve over the next year, demonstrating continued confidence in their ability to achieve greater financial stability

Operation HOPE Client Impact:

The survey results underscore the ongoing financial pressures facing many households while highlighting the value of personalized financial literacy and coaching support. The HOPE Insider findings align with Operation HOPE’s Q2 2026 Impact Data, which show measurable improvements for participants in the organization’s programs:

• Average credit score increase of 39 points (among those with improvements)
• Median debt reduction of $1,929
• Median savings increase of $1,000

About The Hope Insider

The HOPE Insider is a quarterly survey conducted by Operation HOPE’s research team since November 2023. The second quarter 2026 survey gathered insights from nearly 1,500 adults, small business owners and entrepreneurs who have used Operation HOPE’s financial wellness services. The survey explores key topics including housing, debt, employment, small business ownership, and economic optimism. Designed to capture the real-time financial sentiment of everyday Americans, The HOPE Insider serves both as a barometer of economic wellbeing and a guide for programs that meet clients where they are.

About Operation HOPE, Inc.
Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to "silver rights" with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved—disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $4.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.