A concerning trend emerges as 21% of Americans admit they would turn to credit cards to cover an emergency expense exceeding $1,000, planning to pay it off over time—an unsettling revelation from Bankrate. The resurgence of unpaid credit card balances surpassing 2019 levels paints a grim picture of financial strain, with 60% of Americans navigating the precarious terrain of living paycheck to paycheck.
The average credit card debt hovering around $6,000 underscores the mounting financial pressure on households, raising alarms about the sustainability of current economic conditions. Recent job cuts in prominent companies such as Wayfair, Hasbro, Spotify, and Twitch add fuel to the concerns, with significant percentages of their workforces affected.
A sense of urgency permeates the discourse as the economy faces challenges, big tech grapples with failures, and workers bear the brunt of the downturn. Amid claims of job creation, skepticism brews, with calls for a closer look at the real numbers. As economic realities unfold, America is urged to wake up to the growing struggles faced by its citizens, prompting a critical reevaluation of policies and priorities to address the deepening financial hardships across the nation.
Sources:
21% of Americans say they'd resort to using their credit cards to cover an emergency expense of $1,000 or more and pay it off over time, per Bankrate.
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) February 1, 2024
https://listwithclever.com/research/average-american-credit-card-debt-2023/
US: Unpaid credit card balances have surpassed 2019 levels
Via @dailychartbook pic.twitter.com/bHCL66xIxb
— Tracy (𝒞𝒽𝒾 ) (@chigrl) January 31, 2024
Recent job cuts include 13% of the workforce at online retailer Wayfair, 20% at toy maker Hasbro, 17% at digital music provider Spotify, and 35% at livestreaming platform Twitch, per Reuters.
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) February 1, 2024