One in Five Americans Is Cutting Groceries to Keep the Lights On
For some households, the electric bill is no longer just a monthly expense. It is competing with money for food. In a Consumer Reports survey, about 1 in 5 people said they had cut back on groceries or switched to less expensive food, or had considered doing so, to help pay an electricity bill. The […]
Credit Card Delinquencies Hit 12.8% as Balances Near $1.26 Trillion: What It Actually Means
A widely shared headline says credit card delinquencies reached 12.8% while Americans carried nearly $1.26 trillion in credit card balances. That headline is based on real Federal Reserve Bank of New York data. But it leaves out an important distinction: 12.8% is a stock measure, not the current rate at which consumers are newly falling […]
81% of Americans Expecting an Inheritance Are Counting on It for Retirement
A new LendingTree study highlights a serious retirement-planning risk: Many Americans are treating an expected inheritance as part of their financial foundation, even though the money, timing, and final amount remain uncertain. Among Americans younger than 65 who expect to receive an inheritance or financial gift, 81% say they are relying on it to fund […]
Your Employer Just Cut Weight-Loss Drug Coverage: What It Means for Your Health Budget
If your employer is removing coverage for weight-loss medications, the change can affect far more than your pharmacy bill. It may alter your monthly cash flow, health plan choice, tax-advantaged account strategy, and decisions about ongoing treatment. The Business Group on Health’s 2026 Large Employers’ Health Care Strategy and Plan Design Survey, created by Business […]
How Much Money Americans Think They Need to Retire Comfortably
Knowledge Snapshot Americans say they will need an average of $1.46 million to retire comfortably by age 65. That estimate is about $200,000 higher than the 2025 figure and well above the $951,000 estimate reported in 2020. Forty-six percent of Americans do not expect to be financially prepared for retirement. Forty-eight percent believe it is […]