Americans are pumping the brakes on gas spending—driven by economic caution, evolving lifestyles, and emerging technologies.

Over 1 in 2 Americans (51%) have made a purchase or investment due to financial FOMO — the fear of missing out on a financial opportunity or experience, according to new Empower research. 

Empower’s latest research, based on a nationally representative survey of employed Americans (see ‘Methodology’), reveals while most employees are optimistic about reaching long-term financial goals, nearly as many are anxious about their day-to-day financial futures.

The numbers from Empower Personal Dashboard™ from January 2020 through March 2025 suggest a pattern of lifestyle recalibration, with consumers allocating dollars toward convenience, wellness, and personal enrichment, even as they experience pressure in cost-of-living expenses. 

Money is on the move – and Americans are standing at the precipice of big financial choices ahead. On America’s financial scorecard, people rate their happiness with their overall personal finances a 4.97 out of 10, according to new research from Empower – and scores need improvement across the board, as the majority (91%) are prioritizing their financial health and happiness in a year of decisions ahead.

The combination of low awareness, high privacy concerns, and the clear demand for human-AI collaboration suggests that trust — not technology — is the necessary ingredient for AI adoption in consumer finance.

Nearly half of Americans (45%) feel financially prepared for retirement or felt so prior to retiring. 

New Empower research finds that Americans believe there's a secret to success, starting with an average yearly salary of $270,000.

Many people are seeing the “AI Advantage,” with new Empower research finding that nearly half of Americans (47%) feel more comfortable using artificial intelligence in their financial lives compared to a year ago. 

What makes for retiring well? For most Americans, it's affording experiences that bring joy (68%) and enjoying a high quality of life (49%), balanced by the security of reaching savings milestones (68%), according to new Empower research. 

Over half of Americans say there is a secret to success, and reaching it takes $270,000 a year, according to new Empower research. Just 37% of people consider themselves financially successful right now, though most (58%) believe it's attainable in their lifetime.

Americans plan to spend an average of $1,400 this holiday season, while 42% will regift to save money. New Empower research explores how America is “spending” the holidays.