The holiday season is in full swing, but according to a new CBS News poll, many Americans say they're having trouble keeping up with rising prices. CBS News executive director of elections and surveys Anthony Salvanto breaks down the findings.

A recent CBS News poll indicates that a significant portion of Americans are finding it difficult to afford holiday expenses, with 41% saying it is somewhat difficult and 17% saying it is very difficult. The poll highlights that rising prices have been a persistent issue throughout the year, disproportionately affecting lower-income households.

As a result, many Americans are adapting by reducing discretionary spending, such as gifts, travel, and entertainment. The poll also shows that financial stress is closely tied to holiday emotions, and more people report their financial situation worsened in 2025, especially among those with lower incomes.

Most Americans say holidays are costing more, CBS News poll finds

The holiday season is in full swing but many Americans say they're having trouble keeping up with rising prices. CBS News polling finds 41% of Americans are finding it somewhat difficult to afford the holidays. 17% say it's very difficult. CBS News Executive Director of Elections and Surveys, Anthony Salvancho, joins us now. So, Anthony, what's driving this? Hey, Lindsay. Well, look, part of this is a continuation of a story we've been hearing about all year, which is prices affecting a lot of folks. So take a look at this. Why are people finding it so hard to afford? Because they say the things they're buying this year, most of them say, they cost at least a little more, if not a lot, right? So what happens when they find that out? Well, what's going to happen is, number one, it's going to be impacting different income levels differently. And this is another story we've seen all year with differences by income in the effect of prices. You see people at relatively lower incomes, many more of them saying that things are difficult to afford for the holiday season, right? And then, OK, what does that do? Well, let's talk about how they're adapting. Are they buying fewer things? A lot of them are. Fewer gifts, fewer, certainly, airlines and travel. Some of them the same. The folks who are saying that they're either buying more or the same, a lot of that is coming from people at higher income. So, again, part of that impact almost disproportionately at folks who are at the relatively lower income. Look at the first to go airlines, travel and entertainment. Right. Yeah. Discretionary. The non-essentials. Right. So how are people feeling about the economy overall this year? So a couple of things. Those who say it's difficult to afford holiday items are more likely to say they're stressed. Overall, the holidays evoke a lot of grateful feelings, a lot of happy feelings. I relate to exhausted. I totally get it. Right. But the stress is there for people and finances are always wrapped up in those emotions. Right. The overall economy that you just mentioned, things are low. Things have been low. That is really driven by prices. So it's not a lot of people saying the economy is good. And finally, this people assessing looking back at the year, what did the what the changes happened in your financial situation? More people said that during 20, 20, 25, things got worse rather than better. And that, again, really impacting people on the lower part of the income scale. And that's kind of your portrait of the U.S. economy this year. But then magnified, if you will, during the holiday season when there are so many expenses. Certainly that money just flies out the window. Important information to keep in mind with the president speaking tonight. Anthony, thank you.

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