Voto Latino Poll Reveals Severe Economic Strain as Americans are Cutting Back on Food, Skipping Meals, and Taking Second Jobs
Findings show Black and Latino families are bearing the deepest burden, with higher rates of skipped meals, missed payments, and rising debt.
Washington, D.C. — Voto Latino released a new national poll exposing the depth of economic strain facing American families, revealing widespread financial pressure, food insecurity, and declining confidence in the country’s direction. The survey, conducted November 10–19, 2025 among 1,300 adults nationwide, paints a portrait of an America under mounting economic and emotional stress—felt most acutely in Black and Latino communities.
Voto Latino issued the following statement:
“Americans are telling us, in every metric we collected, that the economy is simply not working for them. The promises made in 2024 have not materialized, and families across the country are being forced into painful sacrifices just to stay afloat.
Voto Latino’s new poll makes one thing unmistakably clear: families across America are living through a severe economic crisis. Parents are cutting back on food, skipping meals, and working extra jobs to cover even the most basic expenses—yet many are still falling behind and accumulating growing debt. The burden is even heavier for Black and Latino communities, where financial sacrifices are deeper and the path to stability is increasingly out of reach.”
KEY FINDINGS FROM THE NATIONAL POLL:
Economic Pressure Is Forcing Americans to Make Harsh Daily Trade-Offs
- 60% of Americans report buying less or cheaper groceries.
- 28% say they have skipped meals to save money.
- 24% say they’ve taken on a second job or side hustle just to make ends meet.
Black and Latino Families Are Bearing the Heaviest Burden
- 39% of Latinos and 38% of Black adults report skipping meals
- 43% of Black respondents say they have skipped or been late on a payment
- 64% of Black Americans and 55% of Latinos carry more than $5,000 in non-mortgage debt
Americans Are Losing Confidence in the Country’s Future
- 68% say the country is on the wrong track.
- 57% believe the American Dream is no longer alive.
Mental Health Stressors Reach Crisis Levels
- Politics — 55%
- Healthcare costs — 53%
- Housing costs — 48%
- Donald Trump — 48%
- State of democracy — 47%
Americans are reporting a toxic combination of financial pressure, fear, and political anxiety—conditions that are fueling a national mental health crisis.
At Voto Latino, we will continue to listen directly to voters and use this data to elevate what families are experiencing behind the headlines. These findings make clear that Americans are demanding accountability and urgent solutions—not excuses, not political spin.
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Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered nearly two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.