Consumer News Inflation Is Pushing Families To Spend More Than Their Incomes

Americans spending more for the holidays despite dour economic views

Holiday spending is hitting new records, but some data shows that people are buying fewer items amid higher prices. Read More

Even households making $100,000 are now pulling back on spending and rethinking their expenses. Here’s how inflation is reshaping finances

Inflation is putting pressure on nearly everyone, even households earning six figures. As prices stay stubbornly high, more Americans across different income groups are feeling anxious about their ... Read More

Everyday Economics: A consumer slowdown, fraying margins, and a big test for the Fed

Photo: Matthew Henry / Burst Last week’s data told a clear story: the U.S. consumer is still standing, but looking increasingly tired – and businesses are starting to absorb more of the pain. What We ... Read More

Is inflation really so bad?

We’ve had so much inflation over the past five years, consumers are still reeling from the adjustment, even though our annual inflation is now back down to a reasonable range. Read More

Here’s what the latest inflation and spending data reveals about the US economy

Key monthly metrics from the US government continue to be released now that the shutdown has ended. Next up: September wholesale inflation and retail sales. Read More

The dirty secret of America’s holiday shopping season

Americans, enraged about years of rising prices, are going into the 2025 holiday shopping season prepared for battle. But this holiday shopping season could look a lot stronger than you’d expect – on ... Read More

How consumers will get through the holidays

Tariff and inflation jitters have colored U.S. consumers’ outlook for much of the year, and now the holiday shopping season is commencing with a sense of instability across income levels. This year, ... Read More

America's deepening affordability crisis summed up in 5 charts

Although inflation has eased, many Americans say they still feel squeezed financially. Here are five areas where households are feeling the pinch. Read More

American consumers are miserable. But they keep spending

Still, even poorer Americans have been increasing their overall spending, even if at a slower pace. Data from Numerator, a research firm, shows that those earning over $100,000 spent 4.3% more in the ... Read More

Inflation haunts Halloween; here's how much candy prices climbed in recent years

Americans are expected to spend a record $13 billion on Halloween this year. Halloween candy prices have increased by 78% since 2020, outpacing the national inflation rate. Due to rising prices, over ... Read More

Consumer spending is the U.S. economy's main driver. Here's how it's doing

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to Bankrate analyst Ted Rossman about consumer spending and debt, and what it tells us about the overall health of the economy. Read More

Inflation hits 3% while America's wealthy spend and working families cut back

Inflation reached 3% in September while the wealthiest 10% of American households now account for nearly half of all consumer spending. The Federal Reserve faces difficult decisions on interest rates ... Read More