Poverty level increases amid pandemic, researchers point to state shutdowns, Washington gridlock

[mystery-ak]

Poverty level increases amid pandemic, researchers point to state shutdowns, Washington gridlock

One of the researchers, Notre Dame professor James X. Sullivan, said "more support from the federal government" is needed.


By Joseph Weber

Updated: December 16, 2020 - 10:30am


Nearly 8 million Americans have fallen into poverty over the past five months, another indication of how state-imposed shutdowns to control the coronavirus have hurt the U.S. economy and its workers, according to a data released Wednesday.

The data is from researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Notre Dame.

The researchers pointed to two reasons for the increase: millions of people cannot find jobs during the pandemic, and government aid for the unemployed has declined sharply since the summer, according to The Washington Post.

“There are two ways to counteract this upward trend in poverty: one is a dramatic improvement in the labor market. The other is more support from the federal government, Notre Dame professor James X. Sullivan said. “Given the state of the virus, I wouldn't bet on significant improvement in the labor market in the short run.”

The poverty rate was 11.7 percent in November, compared to 9.3 since June, according to the data.

Though the increase is the biggest in a single year since the government started tracking poverty 60 years ago, the country’s overall poverty levels remain at record lows.

The average unemployment payment was more than $900 a week from late March through July, but it dropped to  about $300 a week in August, The Post also reports.

more
https://justthenews.com/government/poverty-level-increases-amid-pandemic-researchers-point-state-shutdowns-congressional

[mystery-ak]

Almost 8 million Americans have fallen into poverty in the past six months, study finds
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/12/17/almost-8-million-americans-have-fallen-into-poverty-in-the-past-six-months-study-finds-1006709/

[skeeter]

Almost 8 million Americans have fallen into poverty in the past six months, study finds
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/12/17/almost-8-million-americans-have-fallen-into-poverty-in-the-past-six-months-study-finds-1006709/

Every single case should be laid at the feet of the rats and their plandemic. I hope these people know whom to thank.

[roamer_1]

Is it any wonder?

I ain't saying my computer business was all that... More or less just enough for me to get by alright... But it is now, for all intents and purposes, *GONE*

I still get a little bit of HDD recovery work, and a couple committed maintenance contracts that will probably go away when the contract expires...

I am not in trouble really... but I am relying a whole lot more on what comes down the river - Buy/sells and smalls... And I would not be making it without that... The thing that finally made ends meet for a while was a pickup I flipped.

But i am in a relatively free state, with a full larder, and a very low requirement for income... and I have skilz your normal worker bee does not possess. My 'way' is made for this kind of environment. I may not make much money anymore, but I am designed to weather a prolonged downturn.

I can't hardly imagine how hard it must be for folks still on the hamster wheel... with no alternative. It hurts my heart to think of those poor folks getting crushed under these lockdowns... And it pisses me off.