Memo: Americans Urgently Need More Aid to Alleviate the Economic Impact of Coronavirus
By Ilya Sheyman Coronavirus Response Hub and Charlotte Swasey VP Data and Polling, Data for Progress
As Congress debates another round of aid to Americans and businesses, many people are already struggling. The $1,200 checks provided in the CARES act are a positive step, but have failed to meaningfully change the financial situation of Americans who are struggling with an unprecedented financial pinch due to the coronavirus. A new poll from Data for Progress, conducted on May 4th 2020, finds that the financial situation of many Americans is extremely precarious, and that without additional aid we risk severe personal and economic harm.
Americans are already having to make hard tradeoffs due to the economic situation, and they lack the cushion of savings or aid needed to survive the crisis. Nearly 20 percent of Americans report already skipping a bill, and a majority of voters anticipate having trouble covering basic costs within the next 3 months, 35 percent within one month.
