The Middle Class Is Stressed And The Pandemic Isn’t Helping

Nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s difficult to remember that, until recently, the U.S. economy was enjoying a decade-long expansion. Even then, however, consumers often seemed constrained. That could be because only the top 20% of U.S. households have fully recovered from the Great Recession, according to the Brookings Institute. ​And because of a wealth gap that has only widened over the last few decades. In 2016, the top 1% of U.S. households held more wealth than the middle class, a reversal from before 2010, Brookings also found. Read more at Retail Dive.