Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Pandemic Takes Heavy Toll On Working Women

Wed, 19 May 2021  |  pandemic demographics 

Heightened workloads and household responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic are driving deep dissatisfaction among many women in the workforce, according to a new Deloitte Global report, "Women @ Work: A global outlook,". The report finds that these increased responsibilities are having devastating effects on working women as 51% of those surveyed are less optimistic about their career prospects today. Additionally, women surveyed reported a 35-point drop in mental health and a 29-point drop in motivation at work compared to before the pandemic.

Representing the view... Read More

Investor Home Purchases Rise for First Time in a Year

Wed, 19 May 2021  |  real estate 

U.S. home purchases by investors rose 2.7% year over year in the first quarter, marking the first period of growth since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to a new report from Redfin. That follows three consecutive quarters of declines, during which investor purchases slumped by as much as 45.5%.

Redfin defines an investor as any institution or business that purchases residential real estate.

Investors bought about 1 of every 7 U.S. homes (14.9%) in the first quarter—a rebound from the prior three quarters, during which they bought closer to 1 in 10 homes. Investo... Read More

Revenge Summer Is Coming

Tue, 18 May 2021  |  consumers spending 

As vaccination rates rise across the country to combat the spread of COVID-19, many Americans are planning a summer filled with travel and entertainment. A new survey from COUNTRY Financial found that more than half (62 percent) of Americans currently feel good or excellent about their financial security, higher than rates measured in 2020 (55 percent) and even before the pandemic (53 percent in 2019). This milestone, mixed with built-up fatigue from a year spent primarily at home, is driving two in three Americans (64%) to make big plans for the summer. Nearly half of Americans (48 percen... Read More

Family Travel a Top Priority for Americans This Year

Thu, 13 May 2021  |  travel 

In an online survey of 1,005 Americans, produced by independent creative market research agency Atomik Research, 72% of participants said they will prioritize traveling to see family and friends, with three-fourths agreeing they are likely to do so before the end of the year. The survey also found the desire for home-style amenities is higher than ever.

“As more Americans become comfortable with travel again, they’re interested in recreating a home-away-from-home environment that a traditional hotel can’t deliver,” said Melody Bostic Brown, publisher of DestinationsRead More

Younger Americans Feeling More Positive About Finances

Thu, 13 May 2021  |  economy demographics 

As the U.S. begins to emerge from the pandemic, Americans feel more positive about personal finances, with younger Americans leading that increased optimism, according to the latest BMO Real Financial Progress Index, a quarterly measurement of consumer sentiment about money. The survey saw an increase in the number of consumers who agree they are making real financial progress (50% in April 2021 vs. 46% in January 2021) and half of Americans (51%) believe they are more financially secure now than last year. In particular, Gen Z adu... Read More

Visa Confirms Recovery On Firm Ground

Wed, 12 May 2021  |  consumer spending 

In April 2021, the Visa U.S. Spending Momentum Index (SMI), an economic indicator designed to be a timely gauge of the health of consumer spending, hit 136.0, confirming that the U.S. economic recovery remains on firm ground. At its current level, the Visa SMI implies that 65 percent of consumers are now spending more than they did a year ago, while only 35 percent are spending the same or less. Even compared to April 2019, which was not affected by the pandemic and lockdowns, 51 percent of consumers are spending more. The SMI reached its lowest level in April 2020 at 70.5 and did not pas... Read More