Americans Cutting Back on Non-Essential Spending Amid Rising Costs
A recent Ipsos Consumer Tracker poll reveals that 53% of Americans are reducing non-essential spending due to increased costs. Separately, 62% of employed individuals report using AI tools at work.
WASHINGTON, DC – A majority of Americans, 53 percent, have reported cutting back on non-essential spending to manage rising costs, particularly gas prices and general living expenses. This finding comes from the latest wave of the Ipsos Consumer Tracker, a bi-weekly survey monitoring consumer attitudes toward the economy and current events since April 2020.
The poll also indicated that 39 percent of Americans are postponing larger purchases, while 38 percent are opting for less expensive brands. In grocery shopping, consumers are paying closer attention to per-unit costs, with 58 percent doing so, and 52 percent are altering purchase frequency, both driven by budget concerns.
Separately, the tracker explored the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in the workplace. It found that 62 percent of full- or part-time employed Americans utilize AI tools in some capacity. However, perceptions of AI's effectiveness are mixed.
While 27 percent believe AI tools enhance productivity and 21 percent find they reduce time spent on disliked tasks, a significant portion remains skeptical. 23 percent view AI tools as insufficient for producing finished work, and 13 percent find them useful only in less critical areas. The survey included 1,081 adults interviewed online between May 19-20, 2026.