These Are The States Where Inflation Is Stressing People Out The Most

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 45.6% of Americans are very stressed out about recent price increases.
• Increases in stress due to inflation often outpace actual increases in the cost of goods and services.
• While stress correlates with cost of living, some particularly stressed-out states stand as outliers.
• Also: Discover the next Nvidia

In a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, more than half of all Americans reported feeling stressed out by price increases over the last several months. Inflation is a particularly acute cause of stress, with spikes in stress often exceeding actual increases in the cost of goods and services. In some surprising studies, researchers have shown that many consumers would actually opt for lower purchasing power if it meant lower sticker prices on common household items like eggs, milk, and produce.

Inflation is stressing Americans out by varying degrees across the country. While 56.6% of residents in Kentucky report being very stressed out by price increases, just 36.2% of residents in North Dakota report the same. And while the degree of stress tracks somewhat with the increase in the price of rent and overall cost of goods and services, some particularly stressed-out states serve as outliers. A closer look at the data reveals the states where inflation is stressing people out the most.

To determine the states where inflation is stressing people out the most, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the latest survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey. States were ranked based on the percentage of survey respondents who reported being “very stressed out” by price increases in the last two months. Supplemental data on the percentage of residents reporting being “moderately stressed out” by price increases and the percentage of the renting population that experienced rent increases in the last 12 months are also from the HPS. Data on median household income is from the American Community Survey.

50. North Dakota

Fargo North Dakota (BY-SA 2.5) by Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant)

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 36.2%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 30.2%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 54.1%
• Median household income: $76,525

49. Washington

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 37.3%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 34.8%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 51.5%
• Median household income: $94,605

48. South Carolina

A Multitude of Evening Colors (CC BY-SA 2.0) by fran.trudeau

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 37.7%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 30.1%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 32.4%
• Median household income: $67,804

47. Wisconsin

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 38.0%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 23.6%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 47.0%
• Median household income: $74,631

46. Minnesota

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 38.1%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 26.2%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 41.9%
• Median household income: $85,086

45. Massachusetts

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 39.5%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 26.7%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 48.3%
• Median household income: $99,858

44. Kansas

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 39.6%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 31.5%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 40.4%
• Median household income: $70,333

43. Vermont

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 40.1%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 33.0%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 42.7%
• Median household income: $81,211

42. Nevada

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 40.3%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 30.1%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 41.7%
• Median household income: $76,364

41. Connecticut

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 40.4%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 29.0%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 50.0%
• Median household income: $91,665

40. Missouri

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 40.9%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 31.8%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 36.7%
• Median household income: $68,545

39. Ohio

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 41.1%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 31.1%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 47.8%
• Median household income: $67,769

38. Alaska

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 41.2%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 29.2%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 47.3%
• Median household income: $86,631

37. Maryland

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 42.1%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 24.1%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 37.2%
• Median household income: $98,678

36. Virginia

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 42.2%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 27.8%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 50.8%
• Median household income: $89,931

35. New Hampshire

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 42.3%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 23.4%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 60.4%
• Median household income: $96,838

34. North Carolina

Residential Neighborhood, New Bern, North Carolina (BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 42.5%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 25.4%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 48.4%
• Median household income: $70,804

33. Rhode Island

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 42.7%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 26.1%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 47.5%
• Median household income: $84,972

32. Pennsylvania

Tun Tavern Historical Marker at S Front and Samson Sts Philadelphia PA (DSC 4608) (CC BY-SA 4.0) by NMGiovannucci

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 43.3%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 27.5%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 38.3%
• Median household income: $73,824

31. Maine

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 43.3%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 27.1%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 34.1%
• Median household income: $73,733

30. Iowa

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 43.5%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 28.1%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 39.5%
• Median household income: $71,433

29. Utah

Double O Arch (Arches National Park, eastern Utah, USA) (BY 2.0) by James St. John

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 43.8%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 31.6%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 58.1%
• Median household income: $93,421

28. Illinois

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 44.3%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 25.2%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 39.3%
• Median household income: $80,306

27. Delaware

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 44.3%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 24.9%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 38.5%
• Median household income: $81,361

26. Colorado

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 44.4%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 26.7%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 51.0%
• Median household income: $92,911

25. New Jersey

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 44.5%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 24.3%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 47.2%
• Median household income: $99,781

24. Montana

Dirt Roads in Montana near Glacier National Park (BY-SA 2.0) by alex ranaldi

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 44.7%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 31.0%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 38.9%
• Median household income: $70,804

23. South Dakota

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 44.8%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 28.5%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 47.6%
• Median household income: $71,810

22. Oregon

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 45.5%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 25.8%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 47.5%
• Median household income: $80,160

21. Oklahoma

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 45.7%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 24.2%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 36.8%
• Median household income: $62,138

20. New York

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 45.8%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 24.7%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 47.4%
• Median household income: $82,095

19. Arizona

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 45.9%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 26.4%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 39.7%
• Median household income: $77,315

18. Nebraska

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 45.9%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 25.6%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 53.9%
• Median household income: $74,590

17. Michigan

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 45.9%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 25.6%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 35.6%
• Median household income: $69,183

16. West Virginia

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 46.3%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 23.8%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 26.8%
• Median household income: $55,948

15. California

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 47.3%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 24.1%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 48.9%
• Median household income: $95,521

14. Indiana

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 47.4%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 26.8%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 40.7%
• Median household income: $69,477

13. New Mexico

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 47.5%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 26.3%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 37.5%
• Median household income: $62,268

12. Wyoming

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 48.0%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 21.9%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 38.5%
• Median household income: $72,415

11. Alabama

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 48.4%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 25.0%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 35.2%
• Median household income: $62,212

10. Florida

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 48.5%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 26.0%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 48.5%
• Median household income: $73,311

9. Hawaii

Hawaii Big Island (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Pedro Szekely

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 48.5%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 19.4%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 35.3%
• Median household income: $95,322

8. Georgia

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 48.9%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 22.3%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 30.9%
• Median household income: $74,632

7. Louisiana

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 50.3%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 26.8%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 26.2%
• Median household income: $58,229

6. Idaho

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 50.6%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 26.0%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 34.6%
• Median household income: $74,942

5. Texas

HOUSTON, Texas (CC BY 2.0) by Thank You (25 Millions ) views

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 51.1%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 23.3%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 40.1%
• Median household income: $75,780

4. Arkansas

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 51.4%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 21.7%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 33.5%
• Median household income: $58,700

3. Tennessee

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 51.6%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 24.5%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 43.5%
• Median household income: $67,631

2. Mississippi

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 52.7%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 21.2%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 27.5%
• Median household income: $54,203

1. Kentucky

• Population very stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 56.6%
• Population moderately stressed out by price increases in the last two months: 20.0%
• Renting population that experienced increase in rent in last 12 months: 34.3%
• Median household income: $61,118