A new Zpryme study conducted from April 11-14 finds that 33% of U.S. adults are not able to meet all their monthly bills in April. In addition, 26.5 million Americans have filed for unemployment since March 14 according to the U.S. Department of Labor. With that in mind, Zpryme conducted a survey to identify key household bills that consumers were not able to pay due to financial hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Key Findings

  • 67% of respondents indicated they were able to pay all their bills.
  • 10.8% said they could not make their house or rent payment.
  • 10.3% could not pay their car payment.
  • 9.2% could not pay their utility bill (electric, water, or gas). 
  • 8.5% could not pay their internet or phone bill.
  • 7.4% could not pay their student loan. 

Zpryme estimates the data would indicate that about 12.8 million households could not make their house/mortgage payment, 13.9 million could not make their car payment, and about 13.6 million could not pay their utility bill.

Trends by Region

Respondents in the Northeast (60%) showed the lowest ability to pay all their bills this month compared to those located in the Midwest (70%), West (69%), or South (69%).

Respondents in the West (14%) were most likely not to pay their rent/mortgage this month compared to those located in the Midwest (9%), Northeast (11%), or South (10%).

Respondents in the Northeast (12%) were most likely not to pay their utilities bill this month compared to those located in the Midwest (11%), West (7%), or South (8%).

Trends by Age

Compared to other age groups, respondents age 18-24 were most likely to not pay their rent/mortgage (17%) or utility bill this month(14%).  

Compared to other age groups, respondents age 25-34 (16%) were most likely to not pay their car payment this month.  

Compared to other age groups, respondents age 65+ (83%) were most likely to say they could pay all their bills this month. The age group 25-34 showed the lowest ability to pay their bills this month among all age groups with only 57% indicating they could meet all their monthly bills. 

Trends by Gender

Females (69%) were slightly more likely than males (66%) to say they could pay all their bills this month. 

Males (13%) were more likely than females (8%) to say they could not pay their car payment this month. 

Females (10%) were more likely than males (8%) to say they could not pay their utilities payment this month. 

Females (9%) were more likely than males (6%) to say they could not pay their student loan payment this month.