Individuals need CEOs to stroll of their footwear for some time, a brand new survey suggests.
Requested concerning the one factor they’d need company leaders to grasp about financial life within the U.S. right this moment, 1 / 4 of these polled mentioned the price of residing is just too excessive and that corporations ought to make merchandise extra inexpensive, in line with a survey from opinion analysis agency Echelon Insights and international advisory agency Brunswick Group.
One other 23% mentioned executives ought to share their wealth, earn much less and “cease being grasping.” Affordability points had been the highest concern for 41% of respondents, with 23% citing the price of residing.
The findings, based mostly on a June survey of 1,001 registered voters, align with different knowledge highlighting Individuals’ deal with affordability points within the run-up to the midterm elections this fall. A brand new CBS Information ballot discovered that solely 24% and 36% of voters suppose congressional Republicans and Democrats, respectively, are serving to handle cost-of-living issues.
In 2025, the common compensation bundle for CEOs of S&P 500 corporations was $17.7 million, up 6% from the earlier 12 months, in line with the Related Press.
As of early 2026, the standard full-time U.S. employee earned $64,220 per 12 months, up 3.4% from a 12 months earlier, in line with Constancy Investments, citing authorities labor knowledge.
Among the many different messages Individuals have for CEOs, in line with Echelon and Brunswick:
- Pay workers extra/pretty (13% of survey respondents)
- You’re disconnected from peculiar American life (12%)
- Deal with your workers higher (12%)
- Prioritize American jobs/do not outsource/do not substitute individuals with AI (7%)
- Do extra to help communities/those who need assistance (5%)
Not preserving tempo
In a separate examine by monetary providers agency Primerica, 71% of Individuals mentioned their revenue will not be preserving tempo with the price of residing.
Meals prices are up greater than 20% since 2022, CBS Information’ value tracker reveals. Which means a grocery invoice that price $100 4 years in the past would price round $120 right this moment.
“The problem right this moment is that many households really feel they’re doing every little thing proper however nonetheless wrestle to get forward as rising prices proceed to outpace their progress,” Primerica CEO Glenn Williams mentioned in an announcement.
