Across North Carolina, the monthly budget is starting to look like a rigged game. A new statewide survey finds most residents say the basics are unaffordable and many are already cutting back, from fill-ups to food runs to car payments.
The Survey And Who Was Asked
In a new online poll from Catawba College–YouGov, 1,000 weighted North Carolina residents were surveyed between June 1 and June 10, 2026. About 72% said they were trimming regular purchases, an eight point jump from a similar poll in January. The survey was weighted to reflect the state population and has an overall margin of error of roughly ±3.8 percentage points.
Everyday Costs That Hurt The Most
As reported by The News & Observer, respondents most often labeled automobiles as unaffordable, at 68%. Gas followed at 62%, then housing at 61%. Health care and insurance came in at 59%, groceries at 58%, and energy and utilities at 57%.
The same report noted that 57% of those surveyed said they were having difficulty affording their monthly expenses, which helps explain why so many are already in belt-tightening mode.
Housing Eased A Bit, But Still Worries Most Residents
One notable shift showed up in housing. The share of respondents calling housing unaffordable dipped from 70% in January to 61% in June, yet six in ten residents still view it as out of reach. “The survey didn’t ask any follow-up questions,” Dr. Michael Bitzer said, according to The News & Observer, so the poll does not explain what changed in people’s perceptions.
National Mood: A Small Lift, Not A Full Recovery
Nationally, consumer sentiment showed a modest improvement in June. The University of Michigan reported its index ticked up to 49.5 from a May low of 44.8, still well below pre February levels. Analysts tied that slight uptick in part to easing gas prices at the pump, even as many households continue to feel squeezed by higher core living costs.
Why Cars Feel Especially Out Of Reach
Transportation rose to the top of the unaffordability list, and researchers say swelling auto debt is a key reason. New analysis from The Century Foundation finds that by the end of 2025, U.S. auto loan and lease balances had climbed to about $1.68 trillion. Longer loan terms and higher monthly payments are hitting lower income households especially hard.
What It All Means For North Carolinians
For residents who already spend large portions of their income on housing, transportation and food, the survey suggests many are cutting nonessential purchases just to stay even. State data on housing cost burden from North Carolina Commerce show that housing costs remain a persistent pressure in the state, a backdrop that helps explain why routine expenses are now front and center for so many families.
Short of a sustained drop in prices or a break in borrowing costs, the survey points to a future where most North Carolinians keep reworking their household budgets, while policymakers and service providers face growing pressure to respond to basic affordability concerns in the months ahead.
