US Affordability Crisis Spreads: 60% Call Themselves Working Class

The Pew Research Center found that 60% of Americans identify as "working class," including top earners who earn above $155,600 annually. This term is traditionally associated with low-income earners, but now includes half of upper-income adults. Inflation and stagnant wage growth have made ordinary purchases like groceries harder to afford, leading to a major talking point in the run-up to the November midterms. Middle-income and high earners may now feel their experiences mirror struggles traditionally associated with the "working class."