SAN DIEGO, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Encore Capital Group, Inc. (Encore) (NASDAQ:ECPG), an international specialty finance company, today announced the findings of its third Economic Freedom Study. The latest study surveyed over 6,000 adults in Encore’s largest markets, the United States and United Kingdom, about their feelings toward their personal finances and the economy.
Respondents were asked what causes them the most financial stress and the best ways to address their challenges, including attitudes toward working with debt collection companies to resolve past-due debt. The latest study also examines credit score awareness and financial literacy. The research was commissioned by Encore and conducted by Morning Consult.
A detailed report of the findings is available on Encore’s website. Key highlights from the study include:
- Most U.S. and U.K. adults feel somewhat or very positive about their personal financial futures, but they are less optimistic about their respective national economies. Nearly half (49%) of U.S. adults say their outlook on the future of the national economy is somewhat or very negative, compared to just over two-thirds (67%) of U.K. adults.
- “Being debt-free” was the most-selected definition of economic freedom for adults in both countries, chosen by 27% of both U.S. and U.K. adults. Being debt-free was the most-selected definition for every generation in both countries except U.K. Gen Z adults, among whom “having the independence to do/buy what I want” was the most-selected definition (25%).
- While U.S. adults are more aware of their credit scores than U.K. adults, most adults in each country desire a free way to check their credit score. Over four in five U.S. adults (83%) say they know their credit score, compared to just over half (51%) of U.K. adults. Of those who say they know their credit score, roughly half or more in each country report having a “good” …