4 December 2023
Increasing numbers of Americans are withdrawing from their 401(k) accounts, signaling rising financial strain amid high inflation. Fidelity reports a jump in hardship withdrawals and loans from retirement savings. This trend, along with growing consumer and executive pessimism, suggests concerns about an impending recession and the ongoing impact of inflation on household incomes. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon also highlighted risks of an economic downturn due to rising interest rates.