Say an average middle class individual wants to buy a house. Which is the one most crucial factor that will determine his decision? The answer is future job security. This is because buying a house normally means borrowing long term funds.
An unusual trend is evolving the US right now. People in the age group of 20 to 34 years are very wary of buying houses. They are more comfortable renting apartments instead. But it's not just about houses. They are wary of making any big purchases. So much so that they are even willing to rent cars and clothes!
This is very telling of a country that is bracing the deepest recession after World War II. The jobless rate has been persistently above 8% since 2009. On the other hand, another time bomb in the form of US$ 1 trillion in student-loan debt is ticking away. The bleak economic outlook and the excessive sovereign debt are likely to weigh on the future prospects of the American youth. Their attitude towards making big purchases is a clear indication of their future job and income insecurity.
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