This is just a tiny glimpse of the data available to CivicScience clients. Discover more data.
1. Twelve percent of Americans with retirement savings say they or someone in their household has made a hardship withdrawal to cover emergency expenses over the past year.
With prices elevated, interest rates still high, and consumer confidence trending down, some Americans have been forced to dip into their retirement savings to get by. New CivicScience data show that a little more than one-quarter of U.S. respondents with retirement savings say that they or someone in their household either have already or expect they will have to make a hardship withdrawal from retirement accounts for expenses. The practice unsurprisingly skews heavily towards households making less than $50K, but also includes some in households making over $150K.
Join the Conversation: Do you see retirement savings as an investment or a safety net?
2. Saving and paying off debt dominate consumer plans for utilizing their tax refund this year.
Tax day has now come and gone, and the most up-to-date CivicScience polling reveals 62% of tax filers report they have either already received a refund or expect to get one, while the remaining 38% say they owe the IRS. Additional data highlights a more cautious, financially focused mindset this tax season— consumers are far more likely to plan to save their refunds or use them to pay off debt than they are to invest or spend them.
Use this Data: CivicScience clients leverage real-time data like this to monitor and stay ahead of the actions their customers plan to take, allowing them to remain proactive in today’s uncertain economic climate.
3. Financial strains lead to shifting tip habits among consumers, yet Americans are increasingly likely to tip an ‘average’ or ‘above average’ amount this year.
CivicScience data show that tipping habits have shifted over the last two years, with fewer U.S. diners tipping the average (15%-20%), down from 67% in 2023 to 64% in 2025, while below-average tipping (0%-10%) has risen to 27% from 23%. However, it’s worth noting that while average/above average tipping dropped in 2024, it has since rebounded slightly in 2025. Additionally, Gen Z adults show the most variability with tipping, with 36% saying they’re tipping overall more than a year ago, and 15% tipping less.
Take our Poll: How do you feel about tipping in general?
