Main Street's Shaky Financial Feelings
This column was written by CBS News Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.
A new survey from Bloomberg says that nearly 40% of Americans feel their personal financial situation is shaky, or very shaky.
Yes, the number of people who are confident is shrinking, and the number of people feeling shaky is growing. Each month brings a new record of foreclosures. With food and gasoline prices rising, there's a whole lot of shaking going on.
According to the Wall Street Journal, vast numbers of Americans will be using their economic stimulus rebate checks to pay off bills. Buy groceries and gas and even slap some into savings if they can. No…things are too shaky to be buyin stuff just for the sake of buyin stuff.
Eventually one of the political candidates will figure this out, that the road to the White House goes down Main Street. And folks who live in real America are feeling real pain when it comes to dollars and cents.
Harry's daily commentary can be heard on many CBS Radio News affiliates across the country.