THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU RELEASED A NEW SURVEY…
DETAILING CHANGES IN AMERICA’S QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE PANDEMIC YEARS.
TAKEAWAYS INCLUDE A MAJOR SHIFT TO REMOTE WORK…
AN INCREASE IN HOME VALUES…BUT WITH STAGNANT SALARIES AND RISING RENT.
THE SURVEY COLLECTS ANSWERS FROM 3.5 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS.
THE DATA IS FROM 2020 AND 2021…THE PANDEMIC YEARS…COMPARED TO 20-19…PRE-COVID.
IT FINDS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME **TRIPLED.
NEARLY ONE IN FIVE EMPLOYEES FOUND THEMSELVES WORKING REMOTELY.
THE USE IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WAS CUT IN HALF.
ONLY 2.5 PERCENT OF WORKERS UTILIZED CITY-BUSES AND SUBWAYS.
SOMETHING FELT BY MANY AND NOW BACKED BY DATA…
WAS THE RISE IN RENT COSTS.
MORE THAN HALF OF AMERICANS SPENT A THIRD OF THEIR INCOME ON RENT ALONE.
BAD NEWS FOR RENTERS…BUT SOME GOOD NEWS FOR HOME OWNERS…
THE VALUE OF HOMES ROSE BY MORE THAN FORTY GRAND.
A MEDIAN VALUE OF 240 THOUSAND PRE PANDEMIC TO 281 THOUSAND IN JUST TWO YEARS.
WHILE THERE WERE MANY CHANGES…SOME THINGS STAYED THE SAME.
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES REMAINED STAGNANT OVER THE TWO YEAR PERIOD.
ACTUALLY DECLINING SLIGHTLY BY 2.8 PERCENT FROM 20-19 TO 20-21.