Low-income families in the United States are "struggling" to make ends meet as the gap between income and expenses continues to widen.

A recent study shows that the income gap between low-income families in the United States and the actual cost of living is widening, while pointing out that the official inflation index fails to accurately reflect the economic pressure these families are facing. The report, released by the Ludwig Institute for Prosperity Studies, compares the income of Americans with the "minimum living quality index." This index takes into account basic living expenses and other necessary expenses to ensure a minimum quality of life. The study found that the income gap for the bottom 60% of American families (with an average income of around $38,000 in 2023) and the expenses needed to meet basic living needs exceeds $29,000. Due to President Donald Trump's tariff policies, the economic gap for middle and low-income families may further worsen in the short term. Many economists point out that these families are most severely impacted by tariff shocks. Compared to wealthy families, low-income families spend a higher proportion of their income on essential goods. An analysis by Yale University's Budget Lab shows that new import tariffs will cause significant price increases for essential goods, with clothing prices potentially soaring by 64% and food prices rising by 2.6%. The study by the Ludwig Institute also found that since 2001, if adjusted using the "minimum living quality index" (covering basic living costs such as housing, healthcare, education, transportation, and technology), the median household income in the United States has decreased by 4%; whereas, when adjusted using the most common Consumer Price Index (CPI), income during the same period actually increased by 11%. Gene Ludwig, the director of the institute and former head of the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, stated in a press release, "Traditional measures of living costs focus too much on basic survival needs. When we use standards that reflect the costs needed to access opportunities for development, maintain dignity, and realize personal potential, we find that not only are the middle class and working class in America facing economic pressure, but they are also struggling to afford the 'American Dream'." In 2021, the income gap between low-income families and the cost of living temporarily narrowed due to government pandemic relief policies, but as related subsidies are gradually phased out, the gap has widened again. The rising cost of raising children is a major factor contributing to the increased economic pressure on this group. Since 2001, the cost of raising children has more than doubled. In 2023, a typical family of four spends over $30,000 on child-related expenses, surpassing even housing costs. Meanwhile, the study by the Ludwig Institute also found that the economic surplus of high-income families has not changed much, consistently remaining above 60% of the minimum living quality standard. In 2023, the average annual income for the top 40% of high-income families in the U.S. was around $200,000. After deducting basic living expenses, they still have a surplus of nearly $128,000.