Americans have not experienced anything quite like the coronavirus-induced recession in decades, if ever. It is not simply unemployment (which is anticipated already to be in double digits) and the loss of health-care coverage. According to the latest Monmouth poll, “Four in ten (41%) have lost income due to a decrease in work (up from 35% in late March). Income loss has hit households at all income levels (42% of those earning less than $50,000 a year, 40% of those earning $50,000 to under $100,000, and 43% of those earning $100,000 or more). Just over 1 in 5 (22%) report having struggled to pay bills because of the health crisis.”
There is also a sense among many Americans that they are living in a developing country:
Just over half (52%) report there are items they need right now they cannot find in stores or online. Topping this unfulfilled shopping list is toilet paper (23%). Health and cleaning supplies are also reported as missing in action, including hand sanitizer (16%), disinfectant spray (10%), antibacterial wipes (9%), rubbing alcohol (5%), and bleach and other cleaning supplies (10%), as well as other paper products such as paper towels and tissues (11%). Face masks (10%) and other medical items (2%) are also mentioned. Some also report they cannot find certain types of fresh food (13%) or other food items (4%).