Arabic version: ضغوط القدرة على تحمّل التكاليف تقسم الأجيال قبل انتخابات التجديد النصفي
According to Cnbc, affordability is a central issue before the upcoming midterm elections, but the financial pressure is not shared equally across households. Economists and political experts said older Americans are generally more insulated from the affordability crunch than younger households, particularly families in the 30- to 45-year-old range.
Seniors still face higher costs for food, gasoline, electricity and other necessities. But they are disproportionately homeowners and are less likely to be first-time buyers, reducing their exposure to rising home prices and mortgage rates. They also tend to drive fewer miles, keep cars longer and have less need for childcare. Social Security income is adjusted for inflation; the Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% benefit increase for 2027.
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s, found that baby boomers and the Silent Generation and older experienced roughly 31.5% cumulative consumer-price growth from January 2019 through August 2026. Millennials faced the highest increase, at 33.3%, while Generation Z saw 32.7%. Zandi said younger Americans are facing higher inflation and may be more likely to turn out to vote, a dynamic he said should favor Democrats.
Housing is a major driver of the divide, Zandi said. In 2025, the payment required for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage equaled about 33% of the median family’s income, versus 26% in 2022, according to the Federal Reserve. Pew Research Center found that inflation-adjusted median home values rose 30% between 2019 and 2024, while median household income for households headed by people under 40 rose 9%. Childcare costs have also risen substantially faster than overall inflation.
Wealth trends add to the contrast. The Fed found median net worth for families headed by people younger than 35 fell 23% to $33,000 from 2022 to 2025, while it rose 37% to about $505,000 for families headed by people 75 and older. Older Americans do face higher medical and long-term-care costs, including an expected rise in the Medicare Part B premium to $209.50 per month in 2027. Still, experts said the safety net for seniors, including Social Security and Medicaid as a last-resort long-term-care backstop, provides an advantage younger households often lack.
