Survey: High earners in the United States also feel pressure to make ends meet

U.S. consumers are increasingly worried about being able to avoid spending more than they make in the coming year, including those making $100,000 or more a year, a survey by the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank found.

More than a third of survey respondents worry about making ends meet in the next six months, up from 28.7 percent a year ago, Bloomberg reported. The share of consumers worried about the next seven to 12 months also rose.

More than a quarter of those who were able to pay their bills in full in April were worried about the next six months, up from one in five a year ago. Anxiety is even greater among high earners, with about 30 percent of those earning at least $150,000 a year worried about their finances over the next six months.

More than two-thirds of respondents have taken certain steps to deal with increased financial stress in the past year, such as cutting back on spending, stopping paying monthly bills or getting a part-time job. More than 14% of people earning $150,000 or more a year said they withdrew money early from their retirement savings.

The Philadelphia Fed survey of 5,000 U.S. consumers, conducted March 22 through April 6, also showed a rising share of consumers who are already unable to pay their bills.

When it comes to their ability to pay, 22.5 percent of respondents said they were unable to pay some or all of their bills in April, up 2.7 percentage points from a year earlier. The share of affluent consumers experiencing this problem doubled, from 3.4% to 6.9%.