Evidence
Evidence cards
Each card is one number, one definition, and a list of what the number does not prove. Cards update when the source updates. Fed SHED and Financial Health Pulse stay on separate cards.
Who this is for. Readers who want the definition behind a Home gauge.
Who should skip this. People who need a this-month action. Use Start here.
Who should skip this. People who need a this-month action. Use Start here.
Live cards
- Would cover a $400 expense with cash or its equivalent — 63 percent of U.S. adults. Fed SHED 2025.
- Did not pay all bills in full last month — 16 percent of U.S. adults. Fed SHED 2025.
- Households with unmanageable debt — 31 percent of U.S. households. Pulse 2026.
- Card balances among adults finding it difficult to get by — +$2,530 from 2023 to 2025. Fed SHED matched to credit records.
- Major unexpected expenses in the prior 12 months — 59 percent any shock; 30 percent a major vehicle repair. Fed SHED 2025, new questions.
Related: $400 Foundation · 7-day cash map · Method