Comparing against COVID joblessness is a hell of a premise. I would argue it’s a much better measurement to use a ratio of rent/mortgage to income. It is undeniable that the cost of housing has far outpaced real income. Anecdotally, this has become much worse since the pandemic.
Additionally, averages are just averages. A decent average doesn’t negate the negative side of that average. In many ways, the current US economy is truly the best of times and the worst of times. If the cost of housing wasn’t so ridiculous, the other price increases would be more tolerable.
Comparing against COVID joblessness is a hell of a premise. I would argue it’s a much better measurement to use a ratio of rent/mortgage to income. It is undeniable that the cost of housing has far outpaced real income. Anecdotally, this has become much worse since the pandemic.
Additionally, averages are just averages. A decent average doesn’t negate the negative side of that average. In many ways, the current US economy is truly the best of times and the worst of times. If the cost of housing wasn’t so ridiculous, the other price increases would be more tolerable.
For some context, here’s a recent NPR article of the cost of housing: https://www.npr.org/2024/06/20/nx-s1-5005972/home-prices-wages-paychecks-rent-housing-harvard-report