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Economy
Half in U.S. Plan to Spend Relief Money on Bills, Essentials
Economy

Half in U.S. Plan to Spend Relief Money on Bills, Essentials

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With the first direct payments to U.S. adults from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act set to hit bank accounts this week, 35% of U.S. adults intend to use the money primarily to pay bills. Another 16% say they will purchase essential items like food or gas with the money. Twenty-nine percent expect to save or invest it, with smaller percentages planning to donate it to charity or spend it on nonessential items.

Bills, Saving, Essential Items Are Primary Uses of Government Relief Payments
As you may know, as part of the recently passed economic relief legislation, most Americans will soon receive a payment of about $1,200 per individual taxpayer from the federal government. If you receive such a payment, what do you plan to do with most or all of the money?
%
Pay bills 35
Save or invest it 29
Spend it on essential items (food, gas, etc.) 16
Spend it on nonessential items 4
Donate it to charity 3
Do not expect to receive payment 13
Â鶹´«Ã½AV Panel, April 6-12, 2020

As part of the roughly $2 trillion relief package the federal government passed last month, most U.S. adults will receive direct cash payments from the U.S. government of at least $1,200. The payments decrease for higher-income respondents, with Americans above certain income thresholds not receiving any relief money. The poll finds 13% of U.S. adults not expecting to receive a payment.

The results are based on April 6-12 web interviews with members of Â鶹´«Ã½AV's randomly recruited panel.

Seven in 10 lower-income Americans -- those whose annual household income is less than $36,000 -- plan to use the money to pay bills (44%) or purchase essential items (26%). Eighteen percent of lower-income adults expect to save or invest it.

A majority of middle-income Americans, 59%, intend to pay bills (42%) or buy essential items (17%), with 30% looking to save or invest the money.

About one in four upper-income Americans do not expect to receive any payment. Those who believe they will get a stimulus payment divide about equally between saying they will pay bills or save or invest the money.

Intentions for Use of Federal COVID-19 Relief Money, by Household Income
Less than $36,000 $36,000-$89,999 $90,000 or more
% % %
Pay bills 44 42 26
Save or invest it 18 30 32
Spend it on essential items (food, gas) 26 17 10
Spend it on nonessential items 2 4 5
Donate it to charity 1 3 3
Do not expect to receive payment 9 4 24
Â鶹´«Ã½AV Panel, April 6-12, 2020

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