America’s affordability crisis for middle-class families

December 4, 2025

A women with a child shopping in a grocery store.

America’s affordability crisis for middle-class families

The nation’s affordability crisis has not spared middle-class families, leaving one-third unable to afford basic necessities such as food, housing, and childcare.

In a new analysis, Hannah Stephens and Andre Perry examine regional and racial disparities across 160 metropolitan areas and propose policy interventions—from wage growth strategies to targeted subsidies—to help restore middle-class economic security.

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A closer look

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