Can you read this chart? Evidence from the U.S. on financial graph literacy and its impact on behaviour

Consumers and investors are continuously exposed to financial graphs, yet the skill required to accurately interpret them, specifically Financial Graph Literacy (FGL), remains underexplored in existing research. This study introduces FGL as a distinct and measurable dimension of financial capability and explores its relationship to real-world financial behaviours. Drawing on data from a nationally representative survey of 1,002 U.S. adults, we assess FGL using a performance-based scale alongside traditional literacy measures, sociodemographic indicators, and behavioural outcomes. Our findings reveal that FGL is not only unevenly distributed across the population—lower among older adults, those with less education, and lower-income groups—but also serves as a strong and independent predictor of financial behaviour. Even after controlling for numeracy and financial, digital, and risk literacies, higher FGL scores are significantly associated with a greater likelihood of engaging in proactive financial behaviours such as saving, investing, budgeting, and using digital financial tools. These results highlight a crucial yet overlooked skill gap in financial decision-making, suggesting that efforts to improve financial capability must include targeted support for developing graph comprehension. The study has direct implications for policy, education, and the design of financial communication, particularly as financial services become increasingly more visual, digital, and complex.