PYMNTS Warns Surprise $1,000 Bills Are Pushing More Households Behind
A new survey is sharpening the gap between headline economic optimism and what many households say they are living through. Nearly half of consumers said they are not confident they could absorb a $1,000 surprise expense without falling behind on other bills.
According to PYMNTS Intelligence, 40% of consumers were living paycheck to paycheck out of financial necessity in December 2025, up from 29% a year earlier. The report, based on 2,465 U.S. survey responses, also found that more than half of consumers faced at least one large unexpected expense in the past year.
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The bigger problem is repetition. PYMNTS said two-thirds of people who had a financial shock saw their biggest surprise bill top $1,000, turning routine setbacks like repairs or emergency care into debt risks for already stretched families.
The wider mood appears just as tense. The New York Fed said late in 2025 that households were growing more negative about their financial situations, reinforcing the picture of consumers who may still be employed but feel increasingly exposed.
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