America’s economy isn’t just wobbling—it’s flashing warning signs.
With a national debt topping $36 trillion, inflation still burning through budgets, and new tariffs, even strong leadership might not be enough to hold back what’s coming.
According to Pew Research:
With most adults continuing to say the nation’s economy is in only fair (45%) or poor (31%) shape, large shares of the public – including majorities of Republicans and Democrats – see multiple economic considerations as very big national problems. Today, 63% say inflation is a very big problem for the country.
Not only is the country in serious debt, but experts also suggest there is a real possibility of an economic recession.
According to The Economic Times, “J.P. Morgan’s chief economist put the odds [of the probability of a recession] at 40%. Unfortunately, many Americans are not as prepared as they should be.”
J.P. Morgan’s chief economist isn’t the only one signaling alarm bells. Consumers are concerned, too.
Fortune reports, “U.S. consumer confidence fell for the fourth straight month as Americans’ anxiety about their financial futures declined to a 12-year low amid rising concern over tariffs and inflation.”
The article continued by discussing the latest results from the Conference Board:
The Conference Board’s report Tuesday said that the measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market fell 9.6 points to 65.2. It is the lowest reading in 12 years and well below the threshold of 80, which the Conference Board says can signal a potential recession in the near future.
But, again, it isn’t just economists or consumers fearing an economic crisis. Even President Trump has explained this is a possibility.
When he was asked about the threat of a recession this year, he warned there would be a “period of transition” due to his plans for renegotiating trade relationships and tariffs.
He warned of some turbulence as he negotiates trade relationships combined with deep fiscal spending cuts.
Additionally, Elon Musk warned Americans that the new policies could induce a “necessary economic collapse.”
According to Yahoo News, “The explicit policy choices […] are already having an effect on the American psyche. Searches for ‘financial stress’ are higher today (March of 2025) than they were during the height of the Great Recession.”
In other words, Americans have every reason to worry about an impending economic storm.
How an Economic Crisis Will Affect Americans
An economic crisis can affect Americans in a variety of ways.
It could be a case of runaway inflation, which leaves Americans unable to cover the costs of essentials.
It could be a soaring national debt, which prevents the government from responding to major events, such as another pandemic or recession.
It could be the stock market crashing, sending 2025 back into the 1930s.
It could be a series of supply-chain failures that empty grocery store shelves with no replenishment.
We don’t know exactly what will push America over the edge, but we do know when the economic storm truly hits, those who are prepared will fare far better than those who are not.
History Repeats Itself
If you want to have an idea of what happens in an economic storm, consider the economic storms in America’s past.
From 1929 to 1939, America suffered through the worst economic collapse in history. The stock market crashed on Black Thursday and by Tuesday, it was down 25%.
Many Americans lost their entire life savings in that one weekend.
But it only got worse.
By 1933, roughly 15 million Americans were unemployed, and nearly half the country’s banks had failed. Those who were lucky to stay employed sadly saw their wages cut in half.
Fortunately, America has not suffered another economic collapse like the Great Depression.
But we have had close calls, like the economic recession of 2008. That particular recession devastated the banking and real estate industries.
Specifically, it led to home mortgage foreclosures worldwide and caused millions of people to lose their life savings, their jobs, and their homes.
Balance reports:
The U.S. economy almost collapsed on September 16, 2008. […] If the Fed and the U.S. government had not stepped in to shore up the financial sector, the entire economy would likely have ground to a halt. Trucks would have stopped rolling, grocery stores would have run out of food, and businesses would have been forced to shut down. That's how close the U.S. economy came to a real collapse – and how vulnerable it is to another one.
And we don’t have to think too far back to remember the economic chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic—and the supply chain disruptions that followed.
Consider What Has Happened in Other Countries
Because we personally didn’t live through the 1930s, we have a hard time imagining our country being financially devastated.
This is when it is wise to look at what has happened when the economy has collapsed in other countries.
Take Venezuela, for example. With political instability and inflation currently more than one million percent, Venezuela is one of the world’s most economically devastated countries.
As a result, it has been experiencing a full-on humanitarian crisis. Food and medicine were already extremely expensive for most people.
Then, the country experienced a massive blackout, making it a thousand times worse. The blackout affected over 70% of the country. There were many deaths, rampant looting, and a complete loss of access to food, water, fuel, and cash for the majority of Venezuela’s 31 million residents.
[Read More: Surviving Venezuela: Lessons from a Country in Crisis]
Also, consider what happened in Sri Lanka in 2022 when it faced its worst financial crisis since it declared independence from Britain in 1948.
Inflation was out of control.
They had no food. Gas lines reached several kilometers because of the lack of gas, and fuel almost completely ran out. Medicines and cooking oil were scarce.
At the time, the country had no foreign currency reserves so they couldn’t purchase much-needed imports—which they desperately needed to survive.
The situation became so dire that the federal government had to do things like give unplanned days off because of transportation issues and power disruptions.
[Read More: Is Sri Lanka Our Future?]
Insurance Against the Coming Economic Storm
We all understand the importance of having health insurance and home insurance.
We don’t know when we will experience a health emergency or a natural disaster that causes us to need a new roof, but having insurance gives us peace of mind.
Buying emergency food for your family is a type of insurance against all types of emergencies—financial, natural disasters, and beyond.
When you face an economic storm, you will feel at peace knowing you can feed your family when other food is way overpriced, or the shelves are empty.
In fact, a lot of customers use our emergency food as a hedge against inflated food prices. From whole egg powder to soups, it’s affordable and delicious.
Along those same lines, buying a solar generator is another form of emergency insurance.
You can use a solar generator instead of paying an exorbitant amount on utilities—or to make sure your family has power if America loses power similar to Venezuela.
Prepare now so you don’t panic later, friends.
In liberty,
Elizabeth Anderson
Preparedness Advisor, My Patriot Supply
