How did 2020 fare so well?

[Chahta]

This article was lifted from MFO (one of the few interesting things there): link 

It is very interesting describing how last year came together financially. Anyone else along with me wonder how the market survived last year? Housing sales were good, sales of goods didn't really suffer. We hear about restaurants suffering and the employees suffering but it was compensated for. The stimulus really worked.

IMHO this is not to say all is well. Massive debt has been created and we are about to see much more.

[FD1000]

How? pretty simple. The people who make most of the money mostly kept their jobs. The big companies (Walmart, Target, Home Depot) and especially the Tech sector did pretty well.
Add to that massive support from Gov + the Fed and you had a great stock market which enriched the ones who have investment even more.
Rates got lower which fueled the real estate market
Covid allowed better paid employees to work from home and why they start moving to the suburbs which are cheaper with bigger houses and why RE prices are up.
Lastly, the gap got even bigger.
The above process speed up what should take years which is high tech is coming to take away so many jobs and now mid-level jobs where STEM(and some other) jobs are doing great and the rest can't keep up.

The sad thing, there's nothing substantial anybody can do about it. The ones who can't compete should learn how to be guards because they will get paid reasonable to protect the ones who have the money.

[uncleharley]

"The stimulus really worked." I believe you have answered your own question. We can thank the Fed and yes, now there is a lot of clean-up to do.