When extra COVID-19 benefits vanish for New Year’s
Nov 23, 2020

When extra COVID-19 benefits vanish for New Year’s

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Part of this year's federal relief for the pandemic is set to come to an end. Plus, people are traveling this Thanksgiving holiday despite all warnings not to. And, more Americans are losing sleep over their financial situations.

Segments From this episode

Special pandemic unemployment benefits are set to expire the day after Christmas. That could mean more cautious spending this holiday season.

Combine that expiration of benefits with rising COVID cases and stricter regulations and it’s not a great picture for the economy. Julia Coronado, founder and president of MacroPolicy Perspectives, says “about 12 million people receiving those benefits stand to lose them the day after Christmas, so this could affect people’s mindsets going into the holidays.” Coronado also said we don’t know a ton about what hiring has looked like in November, although we typically see a lot of new jobs for retailers this time of the year. “We’re probably not going to see as many of those jobs, but we could see some offset with warehouse and delivery workers being added ahead of the holidays,” she said.

The cost of sleep deprivation

Nov 23, 2020
A RAND study found that lack of sleep costs the U.S. about $411 billion a year in lost productivity.
Right now, more than a third of Americans are feeling anxious and losing sleep as a result, according to the most recent Marketplace-Edison Research Poll.
m-gucci/iStock via Getty Images

Music from the episode

Affection Cigarettes After Sex

The team

Victoria Craig Host, BBC
Stephen Ryan Senior Producer, BBC
Jonathan Frewin Producer, BBC
Daniel Shin Producer
Jay Siebold Technical Director
Meredith Garretson Morbey Senior Producer
Alex Schroeder Producer
Erika Soderstrom Producer
Rose Conlon Producer
Brian Allison Technical Director