Insights Now Are Millennials and Gen Z priced out?
Apr 2, 2026
Katie Korngiebel, a market insights analyst focused on U.S. equities and youth consumer trends. She discusses why younger Americans feel pessimistic about housing, healthcare and education costs. She explores how social media, AI and changing job markets shape spending and career choices. She highlights new consumer niches and evolving approaches to investing and financial trust.
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Necessities Consume Far More Of Income Today
- Necessities now consume a far larger share of spending, squeezing other uses of income.
- Jack Manley notes healthcare, education, and housing rose to ~40% of spending versus ~15% for grandparents, reducing money for saving and family formation.
Personal Example Of Mortgage Costs Tripling
- Jordan locked a 2.5% mortgage in 2021 and later paid ~6.25% in 2025, tripling his mortgage fixed cost in five years.
- He compares that 3x payments rise to ~3% wage growth which would take ~37 years to triple, highlighting rapid cost escalation.
Long Student Loan Tail Even With Refinancing
- Jordan refinanced student loans during low rates to ~4.5% but originally had loans at ~8–9%.
- He remains paying his undergraduate debt 11 years after graduation, illustrating long student loan burdens even for well-employed professionals.