Four in Ten Rural Americans Report Problems Affording Medical Bills, Housing, or Food

According to a new NPR/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health poll, although a majority of rural Americans are optimistic about having an impact on improving their local communities (62%), a substantial share also experience problems in areas that carry major consequences, including financial insecurity, trouble accessing […] Read more »

Index of Consumer Sentiment surged in early May

The Index of Consumer Sentiment surged in early May to its highest level in fifteen years. All of the May gain was in the Expectations Index, which also rose to its highest level since 2004, while the Current Conditions Index was virtually unchanged and well below the cyclical peak set […] Read more »

Survey Highlights the Financial Challenges Facing People with Employer Health Benefits

A new KFF/Los Angeles Times survey of Americans with employer health benefits finds that although most are largely satisfied with their employer plan, many report financial challenges related to their health care costs, particularly among those facing high deductibles or suffering from chronic health conditions. The survey captures the experiences […] Read more »