A huge number of Americans have no safety net

For many Americans, the Great Recession that supposedly ended three years ago still lingers, forcing a large number to the edge of financial abyss. According to a poll by CareerBuilder.com of 3,800 full-time workers, two in five said they live paycheck to paycheck and a quarter said they are not saving a penny. Thirty-seven percent responded that they sometimes live paycheck to paycheck while 20% reported not being able to make ends meet over the past year at least once. Further, a quarter of women and 17% of men said they missed at least one monthly payment in the past year. Even the head of WalMart chimed in, saying "continuing economic pressures" are hurting consumers today.

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