Stop Calling it a “Vibecession”
A silly, fake word doesn’t obscure reality for millions of struggling working-class people. They aren’t in a bad mood; they’re broke.
“Half of Americans struggling to afford housing, survey finds,” wrote Khristopher J. Brooks for MoneyWatch on April 8, 2024.
The headline fell oddly when juxtaposed against one from The New Yorker on the following day.
“Will Historic Job Growth Bring an End to the “Vibecession”?” asked columnist John Cassidy, adding that “The Labor Department’s March employment report shows the U.S. economy continuing to power ahead. Yet many voters’ perceptions remain stubbornly negative.”
Yes, it’s very odd that not being able to afford skyrocketing housing costs is causing such a stubbornly negative outlook in the U.S. citizenry. Perhaps columnists and contributors for the New Yorker should consider reading MoneyWatch for answers to these and other stubbornly elusive questions.
“Many Americans are struggling to keep a roof over their head amid the high cost of housing in the U.S.,” began Brooks plainly for MoneyWatch. “About half of homeowners and renters said they have periodically struggled this year to afford their mortgage payment or rent, according to a recent survey from online real estate broker Redfin.”