Memo: The Staggering Economic Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic

By Charlotte Swasey Vice President of Polling and Data, Data for Progress, Ethan Winter Analyst, Data for Progress, and Ilya Sheyman Coronavirus Response Hub

Executive Summary

  • The financial impact of the coronavirus is hitting Americans hard: thirty-three percent of voters have already lost their job, been furloughed, placed on temporary leave, or had hours reduced, with 41 percent of those who’ve lost a job already reporting having trouble covering basic costs.

  • Black Americans are feeling the worst of the financial crisis with almost half (45 percent) reporting they’ve lost jobs, hours, or been put on leave. 

  • A $1,200 check for adults and $500 for children is inadequate to cover expenses for more than a month for most voters.