The so-called K-shaped economy is now linked to “a remarkable increase in food insecurity,” according to a new blog post by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Large segments of the population are facing high levels of financial strain, according to a post published on Wednesday, based on data from the Survey of Consumer Expectations. Among this…
Patricio Nahuelhual | Moment | Getty Images At risk of stating the obvious: Boosting one’s savings rate is among the best ways to improve a household’s retirement prospects. Doing so increases the size of the financial war chest one can deploy in old age. But there’s another, somewhat hidden benefit to saving a larger share…
Inflation concerns are spilling into “date-flation” discussions online, as social media users react to a surprising stat: Millennials spend $252, on average, for a date. The figure, which CNBC reported on in April, comes from BMO Financial Group’s 2026 BMO Real Financial Progress Index. The average “all-in” spend on a date in America — including pre-date…
A sign for the Senior Community Service Employment Program at the AARP Foundation in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, May 18, 2017. Laurie Kellman | AP Ronald Williams was unemployed when a friend recommended a local jobs program for older workers. After he completed training with Goodwill in 2024, Williams quickly landed a job as a custodian —…
A man walks by the dairy section at a supermarket in Houston, Texas, on March 17, 2026. Ronaldo Schemidt | AFP | Getty Images New government data showing rising inflation points to a higher Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2027, according to new forecasts. The Social Security COLA may be 4.2% amid “sharply rising” gasoline,…
Suspending the federal gas tax could bring down prices at the pump. But the move may not provide consumers with meaningful relief, experts say, and it could deplete a key federal fund for highway construction and maintenance. On Monday, President Donald Trump said in Oval Office remarks that he would “reduce” the tax, after saying in an…
Adamkaz | E+ | Getty Images Building up a large balance in a health savings account can be a smart financial move to cover medical expenses in old age. But dying with a hefty HSA can pose tax problems for heirs — specifically, non-spouse heirs like children, grandchildren, friends and others, according to financial planners….
President Donald Trump delivers remarks on Trump Accounts at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, Jan. 28, 2026. Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images With less than two months until the official launch of Trump Accounts, there are reports that business leaders and philanthropists may, at some point, be able to donate stock…
Natalia Gdovskaia | Moment | Getty Images As consumer prices climb amid the Iran war, some investors are looking for ways to combat inflation. One option, Series I bonds — a government-backed, nearly risk-free asset — could now be more attractive, some experts say. But others may prefer more flexible options. Newly purchased I bonds…
The so-called K-shaped economy is becoming more pronounced, new data shows. In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, the K has been used to illustrate Americans’ diverging economic experiences: Higher-income households are increasingly better off, while lower-income households are falling further behind. A new report by credit reporting bureau TransUnion found that while credit conditions have improved…
