In the financial services sector, government bailouts and corporate mergers (e.g., Bank of America taking over Merrill Lynch) ensued due to the "toxic loans" on the balance sheets of many financial institutions. Stock prices and, in fact, the values of most securities plummeted in response to uncertainty in the financial markets. Many people experienced big losses in their 401(k) plans and other investments and, feeling the sting of these losses and nervousness about the stock market, reduced their spending. This caused a big reduction in consumer spending, particularly during the fourth quarter of 2008. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the U.S. contracted sharply.
As companies sold fewer products and services, their income (profit) was reduced, and many had to lay off or furlough (i.e., require unpaid time off) workers to stay afloat. With decreased income and sales tax revenue, and rising costs for unemployment benefits, layoffs and/or furloughs of government workers in the public sector also occurred. Many families and communities have been adversely affected by these economic changes.