By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Many American households display signs of financial stress, according to a new consumer survey released by the Federal Reserve on Thursday. The Fed said it commissioned the survey to get a better understanding of the financial state of U.S. households. About 25% of the respondents said they were "just getting by." Among the key findings: 34% of respondents said they were somewhat worse off financially in the wake of the recession, only half of the respondents were putting some portion of their income away in savings, and one-fifth said they spend more than they earned. Many households said they are not prepared for retirement. The survey was conducted last fall. Just over 4,100 respondents completed the survey.
