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A U.S. cost of living tracker updated by the Urban Institute on October 26, 2026, highlights research finding that 49% of people in American families fell below an economic-security benchmark in 2023. Newer energy, health care and household-finance figures show where costs are rising and how the measurements differ. Key Takeaways The 49% finding is based on 2023 family resources and expenses, not a new count of households struggling in October 2026. Residential electricity bills rose faster than earnings in 31 states between June 2025 and June 2026, the Urban Institute reported. U.S. consumer prices increased 3.7% over the year through September 2026, including a 34.2% increase in gasoline prices. A 2026 Pew Research Center survey found that 53% of adults lacked emergency savings sufficient for three months of expenses. Nearly half of people living in U.S. families lacked the resources required to meet the Urban Institute’s economic-security standard in 2023, according to research featured in the organization’s October 26 affordability update. The 49% estimate measures a wider range of financial needs than the official poverty rate. It does not mean 49% of Americans were unable to buy groceries or pay their bills. Instead, it identifies people living in families
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