New Jersey Residents Report Financial Confidence Amid Rising Costs, Poll Shows

A poll conducted by the Rutgers‑Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling and SSRS surveyed 1,006 New Jersey adults between June 25‑29. Nearly half (47%) rated their personal financial situation positively, compared with 40% of Americans overall, while 58% judged the national economy as bad or very bad.

Despite this relative confidence, rising expenses are prompting cutbacks. Seventy‑three percent of respondents said they had tried to lower utility bills in the past three months, a figure 9 points higher than the national average. Many also altered grocery‑shopping habits and reduced spending on entertainment. Some groups, such as young adults, reported greater financial strain, with some skipping health‑care appointments to save money.

Ashley Koning, director of the Rutgers‑Eagleton Center, noted that New Jersey’s high‑income households and affluent ZIP codes help explain the more upbeat outlook, adding, "This is no surprise that New Jerseyans may feel a little better where they are on their own terms and what's happening in their own pocketbooks and wallets compared to Americans overall."