‘American Families Are Trapped in a Cycle of Debt’

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Yet another poll exposes the pain that working-class Americans are enduring thanks to US President Donald Trump’s policies, the economic justice advocates behind the new survey said Tuesday.

Polling released in recent months has highlighted how most Americans don’t believe that merely working hard is enough to get ahead, a majority blames Trump for the country’s economic woes, and large shares are concerned about the price of groceries, housing, and unexpected medical expenses.

The new survey—conducted by Data for Progress less than two weeks ago for Groundwork Collaborative and Protect Borrowers—shows that “American families are trapped in a cycle of debt,” the groups said.

Specifically, the Data for Progress found that 55% of likely voters have at least some credit card debt, and another 18% said that they “had this type of debt in the past, but not anymore.” Additionally, over half have or previously had car loan or medical debt, more than 40% have or had student debt, and over 35% are or used to be behind on utility payments.

More than two-thirds of respondents said that the federal government’s summary of student loan collections had an impact on their family’s finances, and almost a quarter said they would need a one-time infusion of cash, “such as from inheritance, lottery, government assistance, etc.,” to be able to pay off all of their debt.

The pollsters also found nearly 30% have or had “buy now, pay later” debt. Nearly 1-in-3 said they had taken out this type of loan—through options such as Afterpay or Klarna—in the last year to pay for basic needs and monthly expenses.

“Today’s poll reveals a troubling rise in families relying on buying now, paying later loans just to stay afloat, trapping hardworking Americans in a cycle of debt that some fear will take years to climb out of,” said Groundwork’s executive director, Lindsay Owens. “As Americans plead for their government to help with soaring costs, President Trump is not just ignoring their struggles, he’s actively making them worse with reckless policies that drive up prices on essentials like food and energy.”