"America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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Americans in parts of the South and Southeast are having an especially hard time paying for everyday expenses compared to those elsewhere, according to the latest census data. Consumers nationwide have been dealing with rising prices — but those in some areas are having a harder time making ends meet than others. About 37% of American adults are in households that found it somewhat or very difficult to pay for typical expenses between late June and late July, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey. That's an online survey meant to collect key socioeconomic data in near real-time.

Mississippi (49.5%), Alabama (45.5%) and West Virginia (43.5%) have the highest percentage of adults who say they're having trouble affording their basic needs. Standouts in other regions include New York (40%), Hawai'i (39.9%) and Arizona (39.4%). Washington, D.C. (19.3%); Vermont (26.4%) and Minnesota (27.4%) have the fewest residents reporting such difficulties. Economic pain is everywhere — but it's not evenly distributed.
https://www.axios.com/2024/09/04/americ ... ruggle-map

Presidential elections are about bread and butter issues, the economy, inflation, jobs...




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"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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The Southern US has historically been underpaid in terms of labor. Add that to the fact that the South is now rising in cost of living due to everyone from the Northeastern US and the Southwest fleeing their high tax states. The local residents in the Southern states cannot afford their own houses on today's market. It is a crucial issue facing millions of Americans right now. Low pay plus higher costs of living are strangling them. When a New Yorker moves to Florida or a Californian moves to Georgia, and both of them sold their properties in their original states for close to a million dollars. They price out the local residents due to a change in the millage rates for property taxes and services.

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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I worked with someone who sold her California home just before she retired and she moved to GA. With her California civil service retirement and the money from her home, she bought a very nice property in GA, IIRC it's south of Savannah.

I posted an article awhile back about a city north of Boise, ID which is home to a huge number of California emergency services retirees. Taxes are low in Idaho compared to California's high taxes, I'm sure native Idahoans resent the influx of California money.

This election has always been about the economy and inflation. The economy is great on the blue coasts, but not everywhere in the US including those 7 swing states.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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I expect many have funds for cable TV, latest IPhone from expensive carriers i.e ATT, booze, new cars (real drain on wallet), concerts, etc. Yes, times are hard for some, but not for most and I'd venture a guess many live paycheck to paycheck with nary a thought how much money they waste on frivolous items and no thoughts of saving for a rainy day. On the income low end level if they are still smoking cigs, they'll get no sympathy from me.

I'm blown away by the amount of infrastructure projects underway in SATX, nearly every major road/highway are under going extensive new exchanges, bridges, road repair. The amount of new buildings going up downtown and around the city is astronomical. I'd say the economy is humming along very well and there are no lack of jobs to be had. I'm beginning to believe people (middle class) just like to piss and moan about their position in life and how mean everyone is towards them. This from one whose sole income is SS, savings, stock dividends. I'm not rich, actually poor, but l live well because of paying off my house nine years early and haven't bought a new car since 1998. Dropped cable TV years ago, changed to a $25 month cell program, pay off credits every month - no debt other than taxes and utilities. My point is, I believe, that anyone saying economy is bad is someone who has their head up their ass. Yes, there are pockets of people doing badly and most are in the south in the states that are normal suspects and RED.
End of rant. Hope you all have a super fine weekend !
"Being Republican is more than a difference of opinion - it's a character flaw." "COVID can fix STUPID!"
The greatest, most aggrieved mistake EVER made in USA was electing DJT as POTUS.

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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I agree, everyone has their spending priorities and for some it's the latest iPhone or Samsung or Pixel. On the other side is the single parent who might sporadically get child support or grandparents raising grandchildren. As the kids get older, there are school sports and other activities and it gets more and more expensive.

In that map, New York State looks as bad as the South, but I agree with featureless that the whole country looks bleak, but Minnesota, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and DC. The economy might be good in DC, but they have a high crime rate. We'll see as things move along.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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highdesert wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2024 11:43 am I agree, everyone has their spending priorities and for some it's the latest iPhone or Samsung or Pixel. On the other side is the single parent who might sporadically get child support or grandparents raising grandchildren. As the kids get older, there are school sports and other activities and it gets more and more expensive.

In that map, New York State looks as bad as the South, but I agree with featureless that the whole country looks bleak, but Minnesota, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and DC. The economy might be good in DC, but they have a high crime rate. We'll see as things move along.
Vermont, not New Hampshire.
106+ recreational uses of firearms
1 defensive use
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0 people killed

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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Eris wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2024 11:53 am
highdesert wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2024 11:43 am I agree, everyone has their spending priorities and for some it's the latest iPhone or Samsung or Pixel. On the other side is the single parent who might sporadically get child support or grandparents raising grandchildren. As the kids get older, there are school sports and other activities and it gets more and more expensive.

In that map, New York State looks as bad as the South, but I agree with featureless that the whole country looks bleak, but Minnesota, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and DC. The economy might be good in DC, but they have a high crime rate. We'll see as things move along.
Vermont, not New Hampshire.
Thanks !
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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Gas prices are dropping precipitously. About a month ago, the 14 stations I pass 3x/week were banging on $3.50/gal for Regular. Yesterday, the lowest was $2829, when just days ago he as $2.929. At least half of the 14 dropped below $3 whereas on Wednesday only one was (the $2.929). Only a couple were $3.059 or more. Even one Exxon was $3.019. We were out in Hershey, PA from Wednesday afternoon to Friday morning, and even in that time their much higher prices were dropping.

But the math says that Trump's proposed 10% tariff on everything will ultimate raise prices to the consumer will be double that, at 20%.
"Even if the bee could explain to the fly why pollen is better than shit, the fly could never understand."

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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National data shows rising auto delinquencies, a trend that indicates the extent of financial constraint facing consumers that typically prioritize car payments. Now a new warning from a top lender shows the challenges facing borrowers might be getting worse as economic conditions weaken. "We're clearly dealing with a cohort of borrowers who have been struggling with cost of living and now are struggling with an employment picture that's worse," Ally Financial CFO Russell Hutchinson said this week. Hutchinson, who spoke at a high-profile conference hosted by Barclays, said that delinquencies spiked above the company's expectations over the summer.

Ally sees growing instances of late-stage delinquencies—those at least 60 days past due. Net charge-offs, or debts unlikely to be recovered, were higher than expected. "Our sense is that's probably going to expand in coming months just given the size of this population of struggling borrowers," Hutchinson added. Ally said employment conditions have worsened quicker than they expected, with little clarity about when they anticipate delinquency pressures to ease. "Ally told you, 'here's where we're at right now, and we're watching the data come through.' That leaves the opportunity for things to get worse as an assumption," Sanjay Sakhrani, a bank analyst at KBW, tells Axios. "This period of time is unprecedented, and it's been very hard to model."

Roughly 8% of auto loan balances were at least 30 days past due in the second quarter of this year, the New York Fed said last month — a higher share than pre-pandemic times. That has moved from the recent low of 5% in 2021, when consumers were flush from pandemic-era stimulus. Borrowers faced a double whammy in recent years: elevated prices for new and used vehicles and higher financing costs to buy them.

About 4% of auto loans had monthly payments of $1,000 or greater as of the second quarter of this year — up from 1% in the same period in 2020, according to Experian. Inflation has subsided, including for cars. Interest rates will likely fall. But in many ways, auto borrowers will still feel these conditions as the macro economic backdrop deteriorates. A New York Fed survey of consumers out this week showed that the perceived chance of missing a debt payment in the next three months hit the highest level since April 2020.
https://www.axios.com/2024/09/13/car-pa ... -borrowers
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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Our capitalist system is built on continual growth and expansion, so some increase in prices is driven by that. But we also have greedy corporate types who, without proper regulation, will squeeze those who don't squeak until they squeak. We should squeak to our Reps and our local newpapers.

CDF
It's a buck dancer's choice my friend, better take my advice
You know all the rules by now, and the fire from the ice

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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There are always going to be a certain number of folks living right on the edge of financial disaster even in a good economy due to their poor impulse control and need for immediate gratification. How many of those surveyed folks having difficulty paying household expenses willingly saddled themselves with a brutal loan on a new car they really can't afford? How many of those folks spend too much of their paycheck ordering crap they don't need on Amazon? How many of them eat fast food multiple times a week and insist on a Starbucks coffee every morning?

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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TxChinaman wrote: Mon Sep 16, 2024 2:44 pm There are always going to be a certain number of folks living right on the edge of financial disaster even in a good economy due to their poor impulse control and need for immediate gratification. How many of those surveyed folks having difficulty paying household expenses willingly saddled themselves with a brutal loan on a new car they really can't afford? How many of those folks spend too much of their paycheck ordering crap they don't need on Amazon? How many of them eat fast food multiple times a week and insist on a Starbucks coffee every morning?
Not to mention Scratch-Off lottery tickets !!
"Being Republican is more than a difference of opinion - it's a character flaw." "COVID can fix STUPID!"
The greatest, most aggrieved mistake EVER made in USA was electing DJT as POTUS.

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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One of the things I never could explain to my Dad when he got on his kick about folks having money for high speed internet and a better than average phone and a car is that these things, which would be luxuries to him, are essentials to getting and keeping a job. No phone, no high speed internet and a run down car = no job or a sub paying one in many places now. Has been that way for over a decade.

I lived in a car with my girl (later my Wife) for almost a whole year in 1979. I have never lost sight of what it is to be truly poor.

VooDoo
Tyrants disarm the people they intend to oppress. Hope is not a Plan.

Dot 'em if ya got 'em!

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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VodoundaVinci wrote: Mon Sep 16, 2024 5:47 pm One of the things I never could explain to my Dad when he got on his kick about folks having money for high speed internet and a better than average phone and a car is that these things, which would be luxuries to him, are essentials to getting and keeping a job. No phone, no high speed internet and a run down car = no job or a sub paying one in many places now. Has been that way for over a decade.

I lived in a car with my girl (later my Wife) for almost a whole year in 1979. I have never lost sight of what it is to be truly poor.

VooDoo
With the exception of cell phone/internet, it has been that way my entire adult life, whether I had money and a job or not. I'm not denigrating poor people, but do question their priorities when it comes to spending when they are on welfare and times are tough. Cell phone for $200 rather that $1.2K, cheap limited cell service rather than premier unlimited, the list is unlimited. Been thru hard times eating beans and rice and MacNCheese for about every meal, or no meal. Wasn't fun, but always seemed to find funds for beer - of course then a Long Neck only cost $0.75 or $1.00, but that was a ton of money back then. I never didn't pay my bills, never overdrew my meager bank account and never took welfare, although I could have. Was always able to find a job, even in down times. As Chief Dan George said "You must endeavor to persevere" then declare war on your poverty - to paraphrase. I screwed up and didn't come to my financial sanity until my 50's and I rue my stupidity to this day.
"Being Republican is more than a difference of opinion - it's a character flaw." "COVID can fix STUPID!"
The greatest, most aggrieved mistake EVER made in USA was electing DJT as POTUS.

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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I'll take a different tack. Mississippi has elected a governor who has REJECTED the Medicaid option that would cost the state $200 million per year, and he did it while having a >$3 billion surplus that could easily have paid for the option for 15 years. Instead he intends to give giant tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations. What the result has been is that regional hospitals all over the Western part of the state have been forced to close, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without ANY hospital access! Electing predatory leaders because they tout crap about "family values" and "protecting our culture" while transferring ANY remaining wealth in their impoverished state to the wealthiest DOES put the blame on the voters.

Yeah, I've been poor, so poor I had to pay just half of my gas bill just to keep it running, unable to afford a phone (before the cellular era), eating the cheapest food, rarely buying ANY alcohol, only beer or rum (my longtime preferred liquor), no TV and my only entertainment was a hand-me-down Lafayette tube receiver and head phones. No car, only a ratty motorcycle I bought for $200. I even spent a month sleeping on a friend's couch in his 3 season room! Yeah, been there, done that. So I do NOT believe in voting against my own interests just to support someone who encourages and legitimizes my hatred of other, the way ReThugs have been doing since the Nixon era.
"Even if the bee could explain to the fly why pollen is better than shit, the fly could never understand."

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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Ylatkit wrote: Mon Sep 16, 2024 9:33 pm The report button is right below my signature, towards the left of the screen. I'll be waiting.
CDF, I'll see you in a few days. Eris, today is my 67th birthday. This post is what I want for my birthday.
Not only was your post reported, but you also decided calling out a mod by name would be a good idea, it seems. So OK. I'm deleting your post, even though I do agree with much of what you are saying. You should seek a less confrontational way to say it.
106+ recreational uses of firearms
1 defensive use
0 people injured
0 people killed

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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All life is suffering, and the root of suffering is desire--reminds the Buddha. So if a person desires more than he can afford, like Musk, Bezos, Zuck, the orange spirochete, and so on, they are poor. Still, for those of us who have experienced actual poverty, homelessness, hunger, and so on, philosophy don't mean squat. Only one thing helps a hungry belly, and that's food. The enterprising poor person can collect free food after a fashion. But the way I see it is that governments need to "promote the general welfare." This means addressing root-cause mitigation strategies. Jobs, a robust infrastructure, and a functioning justice system will go a long way towards addressing actual poverty.

CDF
It's a buck dancer's choice my friend, better take my advice
You know all the rules by now, and the fire from the ice

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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Eris wrote: Mon Sep 16, 2024 11:54 pm
Ylatkit wrote: Mon Sep 16, 2024 9:33 pm The report button is right below my signature, towards the left of the screen. I'll be waiting.
CDF, I'll see you in a few days. Eris, today is my 67th birthday. This post is what I want for my birthday.
Not only was your post reported, but you also decided calling out a mod by name would be a good idea, it seems. So OK. I'm deleting your post, even though I do agree with much of what you are saying. You should seek a less confrontational way to say it.
I wasn't calling you out. I was stating, publicly, that in spite of the tone of my post, when it comes to running the board, including the moderation of my posts, I understand and agree with whatever you decide is necessary. If I didn't, I'd just leave.

P.S. You couldn't pay me enough to moderate an internet discussion board. Deal with assholes like me, before coffee? I think not. It's like they took all the bad parts of being a cop, and then carefully removed any of the payoffs of being a cop, including the pay.
"When I have your wounded." -- Major Charles L. Kelly, callsign "Dustoff", refusing to acknowledge that an L.Z. was too hot, moments before being killed by a single shot, July 1st, 1964.

"Touch it, dude!"

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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YankeeTarheel wrote: Mon Sep 16, 2024 10:47 pm I'll take a different tack. Mississippi has elected a governor who has REJECTED the Medicaid option that would cost the state $200 million per year, and he did it while having a >$3 billion surplus that could easily have paid for the option for 15 years. Instead he intends to give giant tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations. What the result has been is that regional hospitals all over the Western part of the state have been forced to close, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without ANY hospital access! Electing predatory leaders because they tout crap about "family values" and "protecting our culture" while transferring ANY remaining wealth in their impoverished state to the wealthiest DOES put the blame on the voters.
This is what we are facing here in Texas with the Repug Governor and Lt. Governor want to give our surplus billions to the oil& Gas companies and other give aways to the rich, but not help the public schools and healthcare in the state.
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.-Huxley
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." ~ Louis Brandeis,

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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Eris wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2024 2:53 pm What I take from this is that the best 5% grouping are blue states and the worst 5% group are red states. I am shocked. Shocked, I say.
This is the balkanization of American politics at work. With greater connectivity and access to information that the internet provides, we end up with red state red hatters believeing the rest of the country is as bad off as they are. Simply put, their egos cannot allow themselves to see that they were led by the nose to an empty trough and effectively left behind. Their meager imaginations do not allow themselves to seek a better path.

Yet how to reach them?… that should be an honest question and challenge for all Americans to consider in this Brave New World of disinformation.
"It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of non-violence to cover impotence. There is hope for a violent man to become non-violent. There is no such hope for the impotent." -Gandhi

Re: "America's struggle belt: High prices squeeze Southern households"

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Ylatkit wrote: Tue Sep 17, 2024 1:06 pm
Eris wrote: Mon Sep 16, 2024 11:54 pm
Ylatkit wrote: Mon Sep 16, 2024 9:33 pm The report button is right below my signature, towards the left of the screen. I'll be waiting.
CDF, I'll see you in a few days. Eris, today is my 67th birthday. This post is what I want for my birthday.
Not only was your post reported, but you also decided calling out a mod by name would be a good idea, it seems. So OK. I'm deleting your post, even though I do agree with much of what you are saying. You should seek a less confrontational way to say it.
I wasn't calling you out. I was stating, publicly, that in spite of the tone of my post, when it comes to running the board, including the moderation of my posts, I understand and agree with whatever you decide is necessary. If I didn't, I'd just leave.

P.S. You couldn't pay me enough to moderate an internet discussion board. Deal with assholes like me, before coffee? I think not. It's like they took all the bad parts of being a cop, and then carefully removed any of the payoffs of being a cop, including the pay.
I was a moderator on a pool forum for about 14 years. We didn't allow ANY political discussion--good thing because the owner and i were on opposite ends of the spectrum. We didn't tolerate abuse OR misinformation--and there's tons of it out there. I even coined the term "B.B.B." system of maintenance (loosely for Bleach, Borax, and Baking Soda, as 3 of the 5 key ingredients--the other two are Acid and CYA, aka "Stabilizer".
"Even if the bee could explain to the fly why pollen is better than shit, the fly could never understand."

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