When a dollar store is too expensive: Growing class of poor Americans unable to afford items at dollar stores.
You know things are tough when people face a challenge purchasing goods at dollar stores. The dollar store economy has been robust for the last decade as the US economy has shed the weight of millions of middle class families. As more people move down the economic ladder, these stores hit a critical niche. I […]
Low wage capitalism with a dab of cronyism: Of job sectors with the highest growing raw number of positions 9 out of 10 will pay $35,000 a year or less with little to non-existent benefits.
There was a big miss with the latest employment report. The addition of 74,000 jobs produced the weakest employment report going back to January of 2011. Yet part of this is not a surprise given the weak retail sales over the holidays at the expense of cash strapped American consumers. If you dig deep into […]
The Great Income Divide: IRS data shows 50 percent of households make less than $35,000 per year. Top 10 percent pay 68 percent of income taxes.
A major theme throughout 2013 revolved around a booming stock market and real estate sector. Alongside this theme however was also the one of growing income inequality. The stock market generated one of its best years but only a small portion of the population benefitted since most Americans do not own stocks outright. The real […]
Middle class acquiesces through the looking glass of financial mediocrity: The financial system continues to pillage the wealth of working and middle class Americans.
2013 can be remembered as a year where the markets fully disconnected from Main Street. The trickle down promises are all empty and hollow words. For example, we had one of the best stock market rallies ever yet most Americans are not seeing any wage growth. The housing market boomed but more than 30 percent […]