A person in a dark blue, puffy hooded jacket walks away from the camera and down a supermarket aisle with household items stacked on the shelves on both sides. The person carries a shopping basket containing only the few items they could afford as they walk toward the checkout lanes.

ALICE ESSENTIALS INDEX

Unlike the Consumer Price Index, the ALICE Essentials Index measures the cost increase of household basics only..

View National ALICE Data or search ALICE Partner States:

Multi-generational family in the park, smiling for the camera

Who is ALICE?

ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) may be a relative or friend. You may be ALICE. As cashiers, waiters, child care providers, and other members of our essential workforce, ALICE earns just above the Federal Poverty Level but less than what it costs to make ends meet. These struggling households are forced to make impossible choices each day. While such hardship is pervasive, households of color are disproportionately ALICE.

ALICE also represents the data reshaping the dialogue on financial hardship, and a grassroots movement that is picking up steam across half of U.S. states - and counting.

We Work to Secure Racial and Economic Equity for ALICE

Founded by United Way of Northern New Jersey, United For ALICE is a driver of innovation, research, and action to improve life across the country for ALICE and for all.

Explore United For ALICE Reports

Use our Interactive Tools and Resources

A small group of young colleagues sits around a laptop in an office setting, actively engaged in discussion.

ALICE In Action

See examples of partners turning data into action to make a difference for ALICE.

Close-up of calculator and coins next to a miniature wooden house with red roof

ALICE Wage Tool

Explore how wage levels impact an ALICE household's ability to afford basic expenses.

Washington D.C. - U.S. Capitol Building East facade

ALICE Legislative District Tool

See how financial hardship differs by legislative district at the state and national level.

Understand the Consequences of Insufficient Income

Over 40 percent of U.S. households are unable to afford basics, forcing them to make impossible choices and risky trade-offs every day. See how the six essential elements of a household budget — housing, child care and education, food, transportation, health care and technology — as well as taxes affect financial decision-making for ALICE families.

View National ALICE Data or search ALICE Partner States:

Who is ALICE?

ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) may be a relative or friend. You may be ALICE. As cashiers, waiters, child care providers, and other members of our essential workforce, ALICE earns just above the Federal Poverty Level but less than what it costs to make ends meet. These struggling households are forced to make impossible choices each day. While such hardship is pervasive, households of color are disproportionately ALICE.

ALICE also represents the data reshaping the dialogue on financial hardship, and a grassroots movement that is picking up steam across half of U.S. states - and counting.

Multi-generational family in the park, smiling for the camera

We Work to Secure Racial and Economic Equity for ALICE

Founded by United Way of Northern New Jersey, United For ALICE is a driver of innovation, research, and action to improve life across the country for ALICE and for all.

Explore United For ALICE Reports

Use our Interactive Tools and Resources

A small group of young colleagues sits around a laptop in an office setting, actively engaged in discussion.

ALICE In Action

See examples of partners turning data into action to make a difference for ALICE.

Learn More
Close-up of calculator and coins next to a miniature wooden house with red roof

ALICE Wage Tool

Explore how wage levels impact an ALICE household's ability to afford basic expenses.

Learn More
Washington D.C. - U.S. Capitol Building East facade

ALICE Legislative District Tool

See how financial hardship differs by legislative district at the state and national level.

Learn More

Understand the Consequences of Insufficient Income

Over 40 percent of U.S. households are unable to afford basics, forcing them to make impossible choices and risky trade-offs every day. See how the six essential elements of a household budget — housing, child care and education, food, transportation, health care and technology — as well as taxes affect financial decision-making for ALICE families.

Hexagon grid with icons representing the essential household budget elements