8 People Sitting on Benches, Talking About Recession

send stories to friendsAs a subscriber you have 10 gifts give monthly. Anyone can read what you share.read in appTo Julia Rothman When Shaina FeinbergAugust 12, 2022, 5:00 AM ESTimageInflation improved last month but is still close to a 40-year high. The job market is hot. And official data are sending conflicting signals about whether we're in a recession. It's hard to know how to think about the economy now. We recently sat down with eight people at Madison Square Park at lunchtime on a weekday to talk about this strange economic moment.“We could be headed for a recession. About $5. Now I only get it once a week or every other week.” —Benjamin Wissinski, 19, college student“I live on Social Security and cannot afford a recession. I think the government can provide more affordable housing. When they say they're building affordable housing, $2,000 a month isn't affordable housing!" —Katara McCoy, 71, Retired"I don't know your definition of a recession. But I don't think wages are right for the inflation that's going on right now. The rent went up by $600 and my salary didn't go up. And my student loan payments came back." Every day I think, “Is that within my budget?” —Esha Chebolu, 28, Resident Physician"I don't anticipate an imminent recession. But inflation is a real concern. I was talking to some friends that the Social Security Administration is coming up for us at the end of the year. —John Riley, 79, Retired“People keep saying we are in a recession. When people talk about recessions, it goes in one ear and out the other.” — Arius Barnes, 23, actor“When I talk to my friends, they say they are looking for a part-time job, trying to save money, or refraining from going out. I work in stores.” —Luz Camilo, 54, Behavior Coach and Retail Rep"I just graduated in May. I'm a Covid baby. I feel like I didn't make it through college because I spent so little time on campus. But everyone is trying to find a job, even those who graduated in 2020. That's how Covid has robbed me of my chances of finding a job. —Gabrielle Kuker, 22, Part-Time Media Engagement Manager“I always wanted to make sure she had financial literacy, so I don’t shield her from these things. It feels much scarier now than it did in 2008 — the recession is driven by social injustice, COVID-19, monkeypox, war, and a generation of children who are skeptical about entering society. There are objections.” — Cynthia Kuker, 66, Freelance Creative Director and Writer