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The CFPB released additional data from its Making Ends Meet Survey – conducted in May 2019 – related to consumers' saving habits. The new data from the survey indicates that many consumers are falling short of the amount they think they will need in emergency savings.

As reported, half of Americans believe they need $10,000 or more in savings for an emergency, with more than half reporting that their household has $3,000 or less in their savings and checking accounts combined.

The CFPB earlier this year issued its final rule related to payday lending, which did not include a NAFCU-sought expansion of the safe harbor for credit unions' payday alternative loans (PALs).

NAFCU continues to tout the benefits of credit unions' PALs loans to help consumers in need of safe, affordable short-term, small-dollar loans and has urged the bureau to expand its payday lending safe harbor.

Other key findings from the survey included:

• people who report that they "don't save" are nearly three times more likely to experience difficulty paying bills, as compared to those who report they "save." This remains consisting within different income groups; and
• those who have less than they think they need for emergencies and report that they "don't save" have particularly low levels of financial well-being and are most likely to report that finances control their lives.

The Making Ends Meet Survey is a nationally representative survey of U.S. consumers with a credit record. Access the full survey.

Additionally, the bureau's Start Small, Save Up initiative was developed to encourage consumer to create, maintain, and grow emergency savings accounts as part of their overall financial well-being. The initiative includes resource to help consumers establish a habit of savings.

The bureau previously released results from the survey, indicating that more than 40 percent of U.S. consumers had a difficult time paying a bill or expense in the last year.