Poll: Financial security fragile in US

Two-thirds would struggle to cover $1,000 crisis

In this Wednesday, May 18, 2016, photo, Mitchell Timme works from his laptop computer at his home in Phoenix. Two-thirds of Americans would have difficulty coming up with the money to cover a $1,000 emergency, according to an exclusive poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Timme said that his wages have remained basically flat for the last few years while his cost of living has increased. Once everything is paid theres nothing left to save, he said.

W AP Poll-Financial Str Ledb — In this Wednesday, May 18, 2016, photo, Mitchell Timme works from his laptop computer at his home in Phoenix. Two-thirds of Americans would have difficulty coming up with the money to cover a $1,000 emergency, according to an exclusive poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Timme said that his wages have remained basically flat for the last few years while his cost of living has increased. Once everything is paid theres nothing left to save, he said.

NEW YORK — Two-thirds of Americans would have difficulty coming up with the money to cover a $1,000 emergency, according to an exclusive poll released Thursday, a signal that despite years after the Great Recession, Americans' finances remain precarious as ever. These difficulties span all incomes, according to the poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Three-quarters of people in households making less than $50,000 a year and two-thirds of those making between $50,000 and $100,000 would have difficulty coming up with $1,000 to cover an unexpected bill.