• NerdWallet launched a monthly Financial Resilience Index to track how prepared US consumers are to absorb economic stress, using survey-based measures of financial security, financial strength, and economic outlook.
• The inaugural May 2026 score came in at 60.4 out of 100, signaling moderate resilience.
• The survey found 37% of Americans expect to rely on credit for at least some expenses this month, while 63% reported having enough cash to cover an unexpected USD 1,000 cost.
• Recession expectations stayed elevated, with 66% of respondents projecting a US recession within 12 months, up from 61% in August 2025.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Nerdwallet Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief via Business Wire (Ref. ID: 20260520929200) on May 20, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.