CHICAGO — Despite indications of an economic rebound, consumers will remain conservative in 2014, according to a MarketPulse survey from I.R.I., a Chicago research firm.

The survey measures shoppers’ behaviors and attitudes at the end of each quarter. Shopper sentiment dropped in the fourth quarter of 2013 after hitting a two-year high during the third quarter. The debt ceiling crisis, the rollout of health care reform and the reduction of food stamp benefits have shaken consumer confidence, especially among millennials, whose shopper sentiment has remained relatively lower since the economic downturn began, I.R.I. said.

“The economy is slowly returning to a healthier state, but the road has been longer and harder than anyone expected, and it has been littered with obstacles,” said Susan Viamari, editor of Thought Leadership, I.R.I. “As a result, consumers are holding strong to the strategies that saw them through the worst of the downturn.”

According to the survey, 83% of consumers reported having difficulty affording their regular groceries. Additionally, 39% felt their financial picture was worse than a year ago, while 43% said their financial situation remained unchanged from the prior year. To save money, nearly half of consumers are cooking from scratch and using fewer convenience items. When making purchases, 90% are eliminating unnecessary items, and 67% are bringing shopping lists to the store.