Americans on COVID-19 unemployed benefits invested more than when working, study reveals

Americans who received boosted unemployment benefits due to the coronavirus pandemic invested more than when they were working, a research study released on Thursday stated, adding to concerns about a steep fall in spending when the emergency situation advantages end.

REUTERS: Americans who received improved unemployment benefits due to the coronavirus pandemic spent more than when they were working, a research study launched on Thursday stated, adding to concerns about a high fall in costs when the emergency advantages expire.

The US$600 weekly supplement contributed to jobless benefits as part of the CARES Act helped unemployed households spend 10 percent more after receiving advantages than they did prior to the pandemic, according to research by the JPMorgan Chase Institute.

Researchers evaluated transactions for 61,000 homes that got welfare in between March and May. Costs dropped for all households as the infection spread and led to business shutdowns, however then rose when households started receiving jobless benefits, the study found.

That contrasts with a common economic crisis, when homes getting unemployment benefits generally cut spending by 7per cent since routine jobless advantages amount to just a fraction of a person’s previous profits, the research study found.

The analysis highlighted how the additional unemployment benefits are helping to prop up the U.S. economy and consumer costs after the pandemic caused a rise in joblessness across the country.

More than 30 million Americans are estimated to be getting welfare – and they might be pushed off an earnings cliff when the additional benefits, which are due to end at the end of July, are withdrawn.

The information also showed the financial pain dealt with by households that came across huge hold-ups in gathering advantages after states across the country were overwhelmed by applications.

( Reporting by Jonnelle Marte; editing by Richard Pullin)