Forty percent of US Latinos report being worse off financially than a year ago

What does it mean for someone to be “worse off financially” than a year ago?

Being “worse off financially” means a person reports that their overall financial situation has declined compared with the previous year. It is a personal assessment, not a single measurement of income, savings, or debt.

In the UnidosUS and BSP Research poll, 40% of Latinos said their finances had worsened. Nearly three times as many reported deterioration as improvement. The article connects this decline to everyday pressure, including rent, food, fuel, health care, and other monthly bills.

The finding matters because financial strain can change household decisions and voting priorities. Sixty-one percent said they were just getting by or struggling to pay expenses. Many bought cheaper food, used savings, worked extra hours, or skipped health care. Together, these responses show that “worse off” reflects reduced financial breathing room, even when people are working.

How many Latino people were surveyed, where were they surveyed, and what kind of workers did the poll focus on?

UnidosUS and BSP Research surveyed 2,700 Latino people across four states: Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas. The sample included 1,955 registered voters, making the results especially useful for understanding electoral concerns.

The poll focused on working-class Latinos. Nearly 80% of Latino adults, or about 38.5 million people, are described as working class. The article says Latino workers are especially important in construction, agriculture, transportation, and manufacturing. One in five U.S. workers is Latino.

This focus captures the experiences of a large and economically important community. The poll was conducted from August 28 through September 17. It does not represent every Latino in the country equally, since it concentrated on working-class adults in four states. Still, it highlights concerns likely to influence voters in competitive races.

How widespread are financial difficulties among the surveyed Latinos, including trouble paying expenses, rent, food, and health-care costs?

Financial difficulty is widespread among the surveyed Latinos. Sixty-one percent say they are just getting by or struggling to pay monthly expenses. The pressure reaches basic needs, not merely optional purchases or long-term plans.

Rent is a major threat: 60% fear they will not be able to pay it. Seventy-eight percent have taken extra measures to stay afloat, including buying cheaper food, using savings, taking a second job, or working overtime. More than half have also forgone some health care.

Those health-care cutbacks include skipping doctor visits, not filling prescriptions, or choosing cheaper alternatives. The figures show households balancing essential costs against limited resources. They also help explain why 83% rank the cost of living as their top concern. Financial hardship is affecting housing security, food choices, medical care, and daily work decisions at the same time.

Why has the cost of living become the top economic concern for so many Latino households?

The cost of living dominates because it affects routine purchases and bills that households cannot easily avoid. The article specifically points to shopping, fuel, rent, and mortgage payments. These pressures appear repeatedly, rather than as a one-time financial setback.

Many Latino households are working, often in essential sectors such as construction, agriculture, transportation, and manufacturing. Yet the survey found that 40% feel worse off financially than a year earlier. Sixty-one percent are just getting by or struggling with monthly expenses, showing that employment does not always create financial security.

The result is a broad household squeeze. People fear missing rent, buy cheaper food, use savings, and reduce health care. Since 83% rank living costs first, economic policies that lower health insurance, child-care, housing, or daily expenses may matter more to these voters than abstract promises. Their concerns are immediate and practical.

What actions are households taking because their incomes are not keeping pace with their expenses?

Households are changing both spending and work patterns because their resources are not covering expenses comfortably. These choices show that financial strain is affecting necessities, not simply discretionary purchases.

According to the poll, 78% took extra measures to stay afloat. They bought cheaper food, used some savings, found a second job, or added overtime to an existing job. Sixty percent also feared they would not be able to pay rent. More than half skipped medical visits, failed to fill prescriptions, or chose cheaper medicine.

These actions can provide short-term relief, but they also reveal limited financial room. Savings used for bills cannot support future emergencies. Extra work can increase income, while skipped care can create health risks. The survey therefore depicts households coping through sacrifice, additional labor, and delayed care rather than through stable financial improvement.

How have immigration enforcement policies and fear of ICE affected Latino businesses, workers, and family incomes?

The article says immigration enforcement is creating economic harm beyond individual immigration cases. Policies and fear of ICE affect businesses, workers, customers, and families. This can reduce both income and access to work.

Sixty percent of Latino small-business owners said immigration policies harmed their businesses. They cited fewer customers and sales, employee absences, and difficulty finding workers. ICE raids and fear of encountering agents affected 44% of Latino households. Those households faced higher expenses, lost income, or family members afraid to go to work or seek medical care.

These effects can reinforce one another. Fewer customers reduce business revenue, while absent or unavailable workers disrupt operations. Lost wages and missed medical care then add pressure at home. The survey presents enforcement fear as an economic issue as well as an immigration issue. It may also influence voters who experience these costs directly in their workplaces and households.

Why can Latino voters have an outsized effect on who controls Congress even though they are only one part of the electorate?

Latino voters can have an outsized effect when their votes are concentrated in closely contested districts. In such races, a community does not need to be the entire electorate to determine which candidate wins. Its turnout and preferences can be decisive when the margin is small.

The article identifies 12 of the 37 most competitive congressional districts where Latino voters will be decisive. All 435 House seats are being decided, along with one-third of the Senate and several governorships. About 40% of the Latino electorate belongs to a middle group that could be persuaded or might change its mind.

That group includes independents, undecided voters, third-party voters, and people who crossed party lines in 2024. Yet 55% say no party, campaign, or organization asked them to register or vote. If campaigns improve outreach, Latino participation and preferences could shape control of Congress and other offices.

Key Facts:

📌 Forty percent said their finances worsened compared with a year earlier.

📌 Financial deterioration was nearly three times more common than improvement.

📌 Strain includes rent, food, health care, and other monthly expenses.

📌 Researchers surveyed 2,700 Latinos in Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas.

📌 The sample included 1,955 registered voters.

📌 The poll focused on working-class Latinos.

📌 Sixty-one percent are just getting by or struggling with monthly expenses.