As fears of recession loom, the consumer price index up 6.5 percent and inflation at historic highs, funds that Americans saved during the COVID-19 pandemic are nearing depletion.
During the height of the pandemic, Americans were able to save more than $2.7 trillion as businesses shuttered. Investment bank Goldman Sachs estimated that 35 percent of COVID-19 relief funds have already been spent and by the end of 2023, that number will be up to 65 percent.
Lower income households have seen their savings diminish first. Folks that make under $50,000 annually saw their savings slashed by 36 percent compared to people who make between $100,000 and 15,000 who lost just 14 percent of their savings.
The use of credit has surged during this time as well, pushing the credit card debt to a new record of more than $930 billion at the end of 2022. It's a jump of 18 percent from the previous year.
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen rejected concerns that the U.S. isn't headed for a recession and believes that inflation can be eased.
"You don't have a recession when you have 500,000 jobs and the lowest unemployment rate in more than 50 years. What I see is a path in which inflation is declining significantly, and the economy is remaining strong," she said in an interview with ABC's Good Morning America.
You might already be planning your Thanksgiving menu as the holiday approaches. Some retailers are offering deals that could help your pockets as you budget for those large family gatherings.
Jade Warshaw, personal finance expert and co-host of 'The Ramsey Show, joined Cheddar News to provide tips on how to save on engagement rings and to look at cheaper alternatives.
As the country watches the financial situation and monitors decisions from the Federal Reserve, many may be re-evaluating what to do with their money, with interest and mortgage rates at some of the highest levels seen in decades. Mark Hamrick, Washington bureau chief and senior economic analyst with Bankrate, joined Cheddar News to provide tips on your money management as monetary policy continues to change.
A Dutch recruitment firm found that only 42% of employees who have been laid off this year actually received severance, down from 64% who received severance in 2021.
