Middle-class life out of reach for many Americans, poll finds

A New York Times/Siena poll of 1,625 registered voters found 65% say a middle-class lifestyle is out of reach, and many respondents called education and housing unaffordable.

Most American voters say a middle-class lifestyle is increasingly difficult to obtain, according to a New York Times/Siena poll of 1,625 registered voters. The poll reports widespread concern about the affordability of key costs and generally negative views of the economy. Younger voters expressed the strongest doubts about achieving middle-class status compared with a generation ago. The survey also asked about specific areas such as education, housing, health care, groceries and utilities. Key findings: - 65% of voters said a middle-class lifestyle is out of reach for most people. - 58% of voters said education is unaffordable, and 54% said housing is unaffordable. - 70% said the economy is in fair or poor condition; 4% said it is in excellent condition and 25% said it is in good condition. - 77% of voters ages 18 to 44 said achieving a middle-class lifestyle is harder now than a generation ago. - A majority of respondents said groceries and food are mostly affordable, and 57% said utilities are mostly affordable. Summary: The poll indicates broad voter concern about the affordability of major life expenses and a generally pessimistic view of the economy. Undetermined at this time.