Despite what many analysts say is a sluggish economy, upwards of 36% of respondents to a new Ipsos survey earning more than $100,000 a year say their overall net worth has increased since the beginning of this year.
That category was the largest segment response to a question looking at net worth some eight months into 2026, with a smaller plurality at 18% in the $50,000 to $100,000 sector saying they, too, had increased their net worth so far this year. Some 20% of those earning less than $50,000 said their net worth had also recently increased, a larger percentage than those in the $50,000 to $100,000 category.
The largest result appeared in response to the Ipsos statement “My net worth is about the same since the start of the year.” That statement saw 53% of both those earning under $50,000 as well as those in the $50,000 to $100,000 segment agreeing, while a lower 50% of those at $100,000 and above similarly responded.
On the always-vexing question of debt, trend lines in all categories this year appeared to be moving in a positive direction. While 36% of those in the middle $50,000 to $100,000 category said they had taken on more debt, a slightly larger 38% said they were paying down their debts.
In the highest above $100,000 category, only 17% said they had taken on more debt, while a substantially larger 37% said they had been reducing their debt load since January.
Only in the under $50,000 category did the numbers move in the opposite direction, with 38% revealing that they had taken on more debt this year and 22% saying they were paying down their debts.
Generally, Ispos surveys have charted increasingly positive views about the economy and personal income since the days of the Covid 19 economic lockdown.
A separate Ipsos survey conducted in February of this year revealed that 35% of all respondents said they regarded their current economic situation as somewhat comfortable, compared to only 21% who felt that way in late 2022.
Some 16%, meanwhile, identified themselves as being “very comfortable,” compared with only 9% who said the same in 2022.
August 28, 2026
By Garry Boulard
Image courtesy of Pixabay
