Most Americans Say They Don't Earn Enough. More Than Half Report Insufficient Emergency Savings.

A woman checks grocery prices at a supermarket. A new Pew Research Center survey found that 44% of Americans reported difficulty affording at least one basic necessity in the past year. (Credit: Getty Images)

Six in 10 Americans say they do not earn enough to live the kind of life they want, while nearly four in 10 middle-income adults report struggling to afford basic necessities, according to new research.

The findings suggest that concerns about household finances extend beyond lower-income Americans, with significant shares of middle-income families reporting difficulty covering medical care, housing, transportation and other essential expenses.