Inflation Causing Concern In Black Households As Americans’ Debt Rises

Inflation is causing Black Households across America to not ease their financial situation or build wealth, as their incomes have not risen at the same rate as the cost of common goods.

Due to the rising prices of everyday household items, Americans have been unable to lessen their debts, with some even increasing money owed to credit companies. A new poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center For Public Affairs Research shows that many Americans have had stagnated pay while the cost of living continues to rise.

Two out of 3 participants said their household expenses have risen since last year while only 25% of those polled said their wages have increased

“My income has stayed the same,” Steve Shapiro, a 61-year-old audio engineer from Pittsburgh, told Fortune about the higher cost of living. “The economy is good on paper, but I’m not doing great.”

For an economy that alleges to be in good shape, the pockets of Americans are going to debt issues that have not gone away, with 50% claiming that they still have credit card debt. A slim 15% of participants have increased their savings.

Even student loan debt continues to weigh heavy in household budgets, in addition to increased loan rates prohibiting the mobility of Americans, as many choose to stay in their homes rather than face a significantly larger interest rate to buy a new home.

These new issues are especially concerning to households of color, specifically Black, as the racial wealth gap, in addition to pay discrepancies, leads to the median household income between Black and white families being tremendously different. As inflation causes disruption in the financial ease among white homes, this adds even greater stress and concern for their Black counterparts.