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Thursday, March 28, 2024

American people today are even more pessimistic than the economists

By allie@simplywise.com. Originally published at ValueWalk.

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Forecasters are expecting millions more jobs to be lost as businesses shutter due to the pandemic. Goldman Sachs’ latest report predicts the economic slump to be even worse than previously anticipated, and believes unemployment could rise to 15% by mid-year. In fact, as announced last week right before a bill was voted on which will send stimulus checks to Americans, a record 3.3 million citizens recently filed unemployment claims, shattering the previous all-time high of 695,000 claims in 1982.


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The Relief Bill

Of course, the $2 trillion stimulus package passed through the CARES Act on March 27 will give direct cash payments to the millions of Americans, businesses, and local governments who have been impacted by the virus. The relief bill – which provides up to $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for married couples, and $500 per child – was meant to give some hope to citizens and the economy.

The unemployment statistics are grim – but a new survey from SimplyWise, conducted March 26 through 28, found an even darker picture of the days ahead, in the eyes of U.S. citizens. The study found that a full 40 percent of Americans have had their income reduced or lost by the coronavirus. Forty three percent of those who lost their jobs due to the virus are not confident they will be employed within the next three months. And for those still employed, 11 percent now consider their job “at risk.”

Unemployment Uncertainty

Given the unemployment uncertainty, it’s no wonder that while the checks haven’t yet been printed, a reported 63 percent of Americans believe they will need another stimulus check within three months. Moreover, 15 percent said they would need another check in just two weeks.

But until those checks arrive, people need resources today. A majority of survey respondents – 30 percent – reported they would look for part-time work to fill the gaps in their budget. In fact, despite the layoffs and furloughs, a number of companies are hiring now, particularly for temporary and part-time workers. These include CVS, Walmart, and Dollar Tree, who are bringing on tens of thousands of workers to help meet the demand the crisis has caused for their goods. Also, states like New Jersey and Los Angeles have created job portals that list work opportunities for anyone unemployed or underemployed due to Covid-19.

Slowdown In The Housing Market

Sixteen percent of those surveyed plan to borrow from a family member or a friend, while 10 percent said they would go to the bank for a loan. Fifteen percent reported they will sell assets, including a home or car – though economists expect to see a slowdown in the housing market. Another 15 percent or survey respondents are planning to apply for unemployment insurance.

Finally, 14 percent will consider withdrawing from their retirement account. And current Social Security beneficiaries surveyed were twice as likely as non-beneficiaries to dip into their retirement accounts right now. This may be because those not yet on Social Security do not yet have enough in their retirement savings. It also could be that they do not know about the provisions in the new CARES Act, which remove the typical 10% penalty for early withdrawals from retirement accounts, and allows for more generous loans (up to $100,000) from those accounts. While income taxes will still be owed on the withdrawn funds, the payback period on the taxes has been extended to three years.

With or without another stimulus check

Of course, there is not yet an answer on whether there will be another stimulus check. As things continue to change day by day, it is important to stay educated about new policies as they emerge to understand how they can benefit you, and your business. As of today, the virus is uneven in its impact on the different corners of our country, markets, and communities. Amid the uncertainty, staying informed, aware, and empathetic is paramount to making it through the crisis and keeping our financial planning – and our lives – on track.

The post American people today are even more pessimistic than the economists appeared first on ValueWalk.

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