Dalton, who has worked as a heavy equipment operator for an excavating company for 31 years, said he and his wife have thousands in savings, plus retirement funds, and they pay off the entire balance of their credit card bills each month.
“We’re careful and save a lot of money,” he said.
That’s because Dalton counts himself among those Americans who remain skeptical about the state of the economy. He said he doubts the economy will get better this year due to trillions of dollars in U.S. debt.
According to a recent study by Bankrate.com, only 38 percent of Americans have at least $1,000 to cover an unexpected expense, despite many experts saying the economy is improving.
Theresa Robinson, 59, of Oxford, is not in that 38 percent.
“Absolutely not, hats off to those who can save. If I broke my arm or something, I’d have to go to work with a broken arm,” Robinson said with a laugh. “Every penny goes to keeping utilities on, paying the mortgage and food.”
For the past 12 years, Robinson has worked as an activities coordinator at an assisted living facility. She does not believe the economy is getting better either.
“Everything is so expensive, and your paycheck is still where it was a long time ago,” she said. “Seniors shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent or food or medication.”
But unemployment statistics tell a different story — the local rate is now below four percent. Butler County’s unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the recession, and the lowest its been in more than a decade.
The county’s unemployment rate in November fell to 3.9 percent, or 7,600 residents out of work and seeking a job, according to new and preliminary state estimates. It fell from 6.4 percent a year ago, according to the figures reported and tracked by Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
More residents are working now — 184,900 — than in November 2013, contributing to the drop.
It’s the first time Butler County’s jobless rate has fallen below 4 percent since 2001, according to state records.
Small business owner Tara Hardy, 44, of Hamilton, said the economy is on the “upswing,” and that “business is booming.” She and her husband own a plumbing company.
“He’s booked weeks out,” Hardy said. “Over the last year, things have really taken off…people are spending more, gas prices are down.”
Lower gas prices has significantly helped her business, and Hardy said they pay almost half for fuel now compared to months ago. She estimates they save “several hundred dollars” a month thanks to gas being around $2 a gallon. President Obama estimated that the average American would save about $750 this year because of lower gas prices.
Hardy and her husband started their business in 2006 and she admits there were some challenging years.
“It’s been rough, we’ve sacrificed, my children have sacrificed, and we just now this year have a little bit of savings,” she said. “I hope the positive trend continues.”
Fellow small business owner Shannon Mancino said sales at Uptown Country Boutique, 1040 Central Avenue in Middletown are “strong, been good so far,” but her downtown store has only been open since August of 2014.
“I’m optimistic things are looking good,” said Mancino, who sells women’s and junior’s clothes, jewelry and cowboy boots.
Mancino said more stores and restaurants are expected to open in downtown Middletown this year, and she hopes more people will give downtown a chance.
Virginia Ritan, executive director of Middfest International, said she is hopeful the economy is improving. She said donations for her non-profit organization based in Middletown were stable the past few years but “already are looking better this year.”
“As businesses do better they’ll be more willing to support cultural and other kinds of programs that’ll benefit the city, but we usually feel the pinch when things aren’t going well,” Ritan said.
Robert James, 51, of Middletown, said he agrees the economy is improving but is concerned that wages for the middle class aren’t rising as high as those in the top one percent. James is enrolled in online college classes at Ashford University where he’s pursuing a bachelors degree in business. Currently, he’s working in manufacturing but would love to get job in information technology because “computers are the future,” he said.
Jordan Griffin, 22, of Liberty Twp., recently graduated with a business degree from Miami University. The Lakota West High School grad, who works as a manager at a Target store in West Chester Twp., said, “the economy is doing well, stock markets are looking strong, consumer confidence is back up, a lot of people are spending as opposed to saving.”
Jessica Smith, 38, of Dayton agrees. She’s worked in the healthcare industry for the past 15 years and says the economy is doing better. In fact, she said she just got a pay raise last week.
“President Obama is doing a wonderful job (turning around the economy),” said Smith.
But when asked if she had at least $1,000 in savings for an emergency, she said: “Absolutely not, but I’m going to start putting some in, just in case.”
Vietnam veteran Don McDonald, 69, of Hamilton, disagrees with Smith. He believes the economy is “getting worse because grocery prices are higher and homeless people don’t have places to stay.” McDonald said it was easier to find a job in the 1970s and 80s. Before he retired, he worked as a truck driver and worked on production lines.
“Bring factories back, manufacturing jobs,” McDonald said.
Ex-offender Jadyn Schlegel, 22, of Hamilton, said it’s especially challenging for former convicted felons like her to find employment. She said she was convicted of trafficking heroin.
“Obviously a big mistake,” she said. “People should get more of a chance to explain themselves better in interviews instead of getting shut down just by an application.”
A temp agency helped her find work at a factory manufacturing car air fresheners, but she dreams of going to school for cosmetology.
Staff Writer Chelsey Levingston and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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