“More than four years after the United States fell into recession, many Americans have resorted to raiding their savings to get them through the stop-start economic recovery.”

“In an ominous sign for America’s economic growth prospects, workers are paring back contributions to college funds and growing numbers are borrowing from their retirement accounts.”

“Some policymakers worry that a recent spike in credit card usage could mean that people, many of whom are struggling on incomes that have lagged inflation, are taking out new debt just to meet the costs of day-to-day living.”

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