Nearly half of all Americans have trouble paying for basic necessities, survey finds

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A new survey finds more than 4 in 10 Americans had difficulty paying for at least one basic necessity in the past year. Paying for medical care was the biggest challenge people faced, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. Next was daily transportation, housing, and food. Pew also finds more than half of Americans did not have enough emergency savings to cover expenses for three months. The findings come as many voters say cost of living is a top election issue. Prices are climbing faster than most people’s paychecks, driven in part by the war with Iran Find “NPR News Now” wherever you listen to podcasts. Host: Korva Coleman/NPR Reporter: Jennifer Ludden/NPR Producer: Michael Zamora/NPR