Louisiana is struggling with everyday expenses
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Americans in parts of the South and Southeast are having an especially hard time paying for everyday expenses, according to the latest Census data.
Why it matters: Consumers nationwide have been dealing with rising prices — but those in some areas are having a harder time than others making ends meet.
By the numbers: 43.1% of adults in Louisiana say they're having trouble affording their basic needs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey.
- It's the 4th highest percentage in the country. Mississippi (49.5%), Alabama (45.5%) and West Virginia (43.5%) are the top three.
Zoom in: 18.9% of Louisianans live below the poverty level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
- In metro New Orleans, 18.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
The other side: A majority of Americans often tell survey-takers that they live paycheck to paycheck. But a new look at aggregated data from one of America's largest banks implies that this may not be true.
- While there's no doubt plenty of people face difficult financial circumstances, the share who are genuinely spending nearly all the income they take in on essentials is lower than survey data suggests, based on an analysis of customer behavior by Bank of America Institute.
- Some who report living paycheck to paycheck may not be accounting for how much of their spending goes to nonessentials.