A just-released Pew Research Center survey has revealed that 70 percent of Americans faced job or financial-related problems in the past year, up from 59 percent in February 2009.  So much for the official national jobless rate of nearly 10 percent!
The survey also found that 85 percent found it difficult to find a job in their local communities.
A majority of Americans, 54 percent, now say that in their household, someone has been without a job or looking for work. This figure was 39 percent in February 2009.
An overwhelming proportion, 92 percent, believe that the economy is in bad shape and as the numbers suggest, this is hitting close to home.
But, this negative picture for Main Street, is quite a contrast to what is happening on Wall Street. Beast bankers and financial investors, thanks to a friendly Treasury and cheap money continue to make huge sums and grow rich.
