By Sofia Villa
Jun 29, 2024, 2:36 PM EDT
After the pandemic, things are not easy for anyone due to crime, inflation, and the loss of working hours, which, in turn, results in lower wages, causing a domino effect as a threat to the businesses that support the United States economy.
One of the proofs of this threat is the recent bankruptcy declaration of prestigious fast food restaurant brands such as Arby’s that has been on consumers’ palates for years, in addition to the closure of several traditional brand businesses such as the popular McDonald’s stores, in addition to CVS or Walgreens pharmacies.
The news of Arby’s filing for Chapter 11 or bankruptcy law before the United States Bankruptcy Court caused a lot of noise on the Internet, since almost at the same time the closure of pharmacy branches or businesses harassed by the increase in the theft of merchandise or the high rental costs.
These businesses were seen as money-making machines, but Covid-19 put a stop to that dynamism. And like a perfect storm, the increase in thefts in the retail market affects stores that do not know how to defend themselves.
In general, all these companies, large or medium and small, have the same problem: insecurity that is added to the fact that the consumer is now more demanding in what they ask for and especially with what they pay; Because after the pandemic we all learned to pay more attention to every dollar we spend.
This situation makes it clear to us that the echoes of the pandemic continue to affect everyone equally and that is why businessmen no longer see the closing of the month’s accounts so well, even though the FED says that it is winning the game over inflation and that the things are not that expensive.
The serious thing is that the powerful bankers of the Federal Reserve Bank, FED, do not feel this impact as strongly as ordinary people, who live the reality of needing money to cover their daily lives.
In this case, we have only dealt with the ravages of the pandemic in one sector of the economy, but surely we all have some complaints, because the cost of health is rising, insurance is now less affordable and each medicine is more expensive and, above all, food is not giving in, despite the measures of the Federal Reserve Bank to try to contain the shortage.
The question then is how long do we have to suffer this drama of the coronavirus that continues to kill the economy and threatens to return to return to those times of confinement that hit our pockets.
As an author, Sofía Villa writes this column in a personal capacity and her opinions do not represent those of Televisa-Univision Inc., where she works as an Assignment Manager.