Nearly 40% of American adults are frequently worried about paying their bills, according to a new CNN poll.

Concerns about the rising cost of essentials like groceries, clothing, and insurance, are rising. At the same time, household debt reached $17.69 trillion in the first quarter of 2024, up by $184 billion from the previous quarter.

The level of financial anxiety surpasses that of the Great Recession era, reflecting the significant economic pressures many Americans are currently facing.