Consumers spent more money on recreation and eating out during the 2021 holiday season than during the 2020 holiday season, but many remain vulnerable as government relief programs expire and inflation continues. This brief examines the factors that may shape financial health in the early months of 2022.

This research was produced by the Financial Health Network in collaboration with BlackRock’s Emergency Savings Initiative (ESI). ESI is a cross-sector program with a mission to help people living on low to moderate incomes gain access to and increase usage of proven savings strategies and tools – ultimately helping them establish an important safety net.

The Financial Health Network began conducting research in early 2021 to identify strategies employers can use to embed an equity lens into their benefits programs. HR leaders can use these early learnings to design and deliver programs and benefits that reduce financial health gaps among employees. 

This research was produced by the Financial Health Network in collaboration with BlackRock’s Emergency Savings Initiative. ESI is a cross-sector program with a mission to help people living on low to moderate incomes gain access to and increase usage of proven savings strategies and tools – ultimately helping them establish an important safety net.

Family and friends are a major lifeline for justice-involved individuals, providing support and advice from pre-trial to post-release.

Once justice-involved individuals are released from jail or court, they are still not released from their financial obligations to the criminal justice system.

Once justice-involved individuals re-enter society, there are numerous barriers to gain employment that often force them to make difficult decisions.

After a family member or loved one is arrested, their households are forced to juggle financial responsibilities, including staggering bills and missing payments.

Justice-involved individuals and their families face a number of expenses that can create financial strains immediately after arrest, including posting bail and hiring legal representation.

From April 1 to June 30, 2021, Americans balanced saving and new spending opportunities, with minimal changes in earned income.

Key Finding: Low- to moderate-income (LMI) frontline workers are less likely to be Financially Healthy than non-frontline LMI workers.

Since the last Pulse survey in August 2020, more people are struggling to afford healthcare, which may lead to long-term health consequences beyond those created directly by COVID-19.