‘Scraping for crumbs’: Americans squeezed by affordability crisis

Financial TimesTuesday, November 25, 2025 at 5:00:21 AM
‘Scraping for crumbs’: Americans squeezed by affordability crisis
  • Rising costs of food, shelter, and healthcare are severely impacting Americans in Bethlehem and the surrounding Lehigh Valley, leading to a significant affordability crisis. Residents are struggling to make ends meet as essential expenses continue to climb.
  • This affordability crisis highlights the financial strain on households, as many Americans are forced to make difficult choices regarding their spending and savings. The situation is exacerbated by stagnant wages and increasing inflation, which further limits financial flexibility.
  • The ongoing economic challenges reflect a broader trend of declining economic confidence among Americans, who express frustration over rising prices and a negative outlook on personal finances. Despite a slight improvement in economic sentiment following a government shutdown, the persistent affordability issues indicate deeper systemic problems affecting the financial well
— via World Pulse Now AI Editorial System

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