Bills are the single largest expense category for US households

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• U.S. households spend nearly one-third of their incomeabout $24,700 a yearon essential bills, according to a new doxoINSIGHTS 2025 report.

• Inflation, rising costs, and security concerns are straining Americans finances, with 77% saying their situation has worsened since last year.

• Identity fraud fears and a desire for simpler, more secure payment tools are reshaping how consumers manage their bills.

A new doxoINSIGHTS 2025 Report: The Bill Pay Economy, reveals that Americans are spending a median of $24,695 annually, or about 31% of household income, on essential bills, showing the growing financial strain facing U.S. families.

Collectively, households pay $4.55 trillion each year across 13 core expenses, from rent and mortgages to utilities, insurance, and mobile services.

Bills are the single largest expense category for American households, and our findings show that paying them is not only financially burdensome but also emotionally stressful, said Steve Shivers, co-founder and CEO at doxo. From growing fears of fraud to the strain of rising costs, households are looking for better, safer, and more convenient ways to manage payments.

Inflation and financial stress take a toll

The report paints a sobering picture of financial pressure. More than three-quarters (77%) of adults say their financial situation is worse than a year ago, and nearly half have reduced savings or delayed major purchases to keep up with bills.

About 17% admit to delaying at least one bill each month, and 45% say they wouldnt be able to cover three months of expenses if their income stoppedillustrating how thin household financial buffers have become.

Beyond the cost of bills themselves, Americans are increasingly anxious about the risks of paying them.

Eighty-six percent worry about stolen payment information, 84% are concerned about identity fraud, and 83% fear credit score damage from missed or late payments. Meanwhile, 67% dread late fees and 57% worry about overdraft penalties.

Identity theft anxiety is rising sharply: 43% say theyre more concerned about fraud this year than last, marking one of the fastest-growing consumer fears.

How and when Americans pay

Despite these concerns, the ways Americans pay their bills are diverse. Most prefer digital payments biller websites and bank portals dominate but traditional methods like mail and in-person payments still persist for certain bills.

Automated payments are gaining traction: 42% of mobile bills are auto-paid, while only 9% of rent payments are set up that way. Payment activity peaks early in the week, especially on Monday and Friday mornings.

According to the survey, Americans are signaling a clear demand for more efficient, stress-free bill management. Sixty-five percent want email reminders, 60% want mobile-friendly options, and 55% would prefer an all-in-one platform that consolidates multiple bills securely. Nearly half (46%) want the flexibility to choose between different payment methods, like bank transfers, credit, or debit, depending on their cash flow.

University of Michigan survey shows consumers feel a little better about their finances

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu: Consumer sentiment moved sideways this month.

• At 55 index points, sentiment is virtually unchanged from September.

• Weakness in expectations for future personal finances and durable-goods conditions offset gains in current finances and business outlooks.

The University of Michigans preliminary consumer sentiment index for October held nearly flat at 55.0, a modest dip from Septembers final 55.1, signaling little change in how Americans view their financial prospects and the broader economy.

Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu emphasized said there there were modest improvements in assessments of current personal finances and year-ahead business conditions, but they were counterbalanced by declines in expectations for future personal finances and current buying conditions for durable goods.

Overall, she judged that consumers saw very few changes in the outlook for the economy compared to last month.

Key subindexes and inflation sentiment

• The Current Economic Conditions subindex rose to 61.0 from 60.4 in September, pointing to a slight improvement in how households feel about their immediate financial situation.

• The Expectations subindex slipped to 51.2 from 51.7, reflecting softer sentiment about what lies ahead.

• Year-ahead inflation expectations eased slightly to 4.6% (from 4.7% last month), while long-run expectations held steady at 3.7%.

• Compared to a year ago, both inflation expectations and the overall index remain well below their longer-term peaks earlier this year.

Drivers and headwinds

Consumers continue to wrestle with pocketbook pressures, such as persistent high prices and anxiety over job stability. Hsu noted that many households do not currently anticipate meaningful improvement in these areas.

Interviews conducted during the survey period found little indication that the ongoing federal government shutdown has significantly altered views of the economy. Still, the weak overall reading comes at a challenging time: with other economic benchmarks such as labor market data delayed or in flux, the Michigan survey is among the few timely gauges of public confidence available.

Analysts warn that the flat reading underscores a fragile undercurrent in consumer behavior. With inflation outlooks still elevated and wage growth under pressure, households may rein in discretionary spending should conditions worsen.

Shutdown pain spreads across U.S. as stalemate drags into third week

Missed paychecks, stalled services and growing public strain mark week three of shutdown
Lawmakers remain deadlocked over funding deal tied to health insurance subsidies
Food banks, air traffic, and small businesses feel ripple effects as crisis deepens

The government shutdown is beginning to sting the broader U.S. economy as hundreds of thousands of workers miss paychecks, government services grind to a halt and public frustration mounts.

President Donald Trump and Congress remain at an impasse entering the third week of shuttered federal agencies. Republicans control both chambers but lack the votes to overcome a Senate filibuster, while Democrats are demanding that any deal to reopen the government preserve federal health insurance subsidies.

The standoff has already rippled through daily life: thousands of flights delayed amid air traffic controller shortages, closed taxpayer helplines at the Internal Revenue Service, halted permit approvals at the Environmental Protection Agency and Transportation Department, and locked gates at national parks.

Paychecks stop, pressure builds

Roughly 750,000 federal employees are now furloughed, while others deemed essential such as those protecting national security or government property continue working without pay. Trump ordered the Pentagon on Sunday to redirect research and development funds to cover military paychecks, but civilian workers are not expected to see the same relief. Administration officials have also argued that furloughed workers may not receive back pay once the shutdown ends.

The loss of income is already filtering through local economies. When those paychecks start to dry up, thats when it starts to impact people beyond the government, said G. William Hoagland of the Bipartisan Policy Center. Its a slow burn, but it gets worse as it goes on.

Besides those furloughed or working without pay, at least 4,000 federal employees will be terminated in a new round of mass firings, White House officials said, warning that firings will continue and "go deeper" as the shutdown wears on.Thousands of employees at the departments of Education, Treasury, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, are set to receive layoff notices, according to spokespeople for the agencies and union representatives for federal workers.

The longer this goes on, the deeper the cuts are going to be, Vice President JDVance said on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures. To be clear, some of these cuts are going to be painful. This is not a situation that we relish. This is not something that were looking forward to, but the Democrats have dealt us a pretty difficult set of cards.

Voices from the shutdown

Federal employees describe frustration, fear, and fatigue as layoffs and missed paychecks mount.

Im already juggling paycheck to paycheck. Now Im not even sure how long I can keep the lights on.
Transportation Department analyst, furloughed since the start of the shutdown (ABC News)

Unnecessary and cruel thats what this feels like. I gave 18 years to this agency, and they just cut us loose.
Patent and Trademark Office employee, one of dozens terminated in early October (Notus)

Were political pawns at this point. The work we do still matters, but it feels like no one in Washington cares.
Environmental Protection Agency scientist, speaking anonymously (The Guardian)

My wifes picking up extra shifts. Im doing the math every night groceries or the car payment? Somethings got to give.
Social Security Administration worker, furloughed and awaiting back pay

Controllers are distracted and exhausted. Every day we come in unpaid, the risk goes up.
Air traffic control supervisor, Newark Liberty International Airport

Nonprofits and community groups across the country are preparing for a wave of hardship. In Philadelphia, Share Food Programs executive director, George Matysik, said demand for food assistance has jumped 120 percent since the start of the shutdown. I have never seen our warehouse as empty as it has been in the last three months, he said in a Washington Post report.

Federal services on hold

At the Social Security Administration, workers report being unable to issue benefit verification letters or process income corrections services that many people need to qualify for food stamps, housing aid or pensions. Callers are already expressing frustration about the limits of our work, one employee said.

Air travel is also straining under the pressure. Air traffic control supervisors say staffing shortages are growing, with one West Coast controller warning that distraction itself is a safety risk. Last week, more than half of all flight delays nationwide were linked to staffing problems, according to Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.

Growing risks as shutdown drags on

Economists warn the pain could deepen if the stalemate persists. The last major shutdown a 34-day closure during Trumps first term shaved $11 billion from U.S. economic output, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Families around the country are already seeing the impacts, said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (RS.D.). The American people are going to feel a lot more pain and miss a lot more paychecks in the near future.

For millions of Americans federal employees, small business owners, and low-income families alike the crisis is no longer political theater. Its becoming personal.

A quick summary of the latest food recalls from the FDA and USDA

Food recalls and disease outbreaks are happening at a rapid clip. Heres a concise rundown of majornew U.S. food recalls/outbreaks as of Oct 11, 2025, with full-text links. Note that some of these recalls may have been issued earlier but are being extended because of new findings.

• Frozen spinach (DelMar / Sno Pac) Listeria contamination
  Frozen spinach sold nationwide may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses reported to date; consumers should discard or return recalled lots. Full notice (FDA/company). (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

• Nates Fine Foods precooked pasta Listeria outbreak link
  About 245,000 lbs of precooked pasta (linguine, penne, etc.) sold to large meal producers is being recalled, tied to an ongoing outbreak implicated in 20 illnesses and 4 deaths. Affected products were distributed across multiple retail chains including Kroger, Walmart, Sprouts, Albertsons, and Giant Eagle. Full notice (FDA). (AP News)

• Foster Poultry chicken corn dogs wood fragments found
  Over 3.8 million lbs of chicken corn dog products are being recalled due to embedded wood fragments; at least 5 injuries have been reported. Products were sold under various brands and date codescheck the FSIS recall list. Full notice (USDA/FSIS). (AP News)

• Sea Port frozen raw shrimp cesium137 risk
  Sea Port Products Corp is recalling frozen raw peeled white shrimp (jumbo size) over possible radioactive cesium137 contamination. The recall is limited to specific lot codes and best by dates. Full notice (FDA). (efoodalert.com)

Here are some new or recently evolving food recalls/outbreaks in the U.S. worth noting:

Prepared pasta meals / pasta salads Listeria monocytogenes

• Product / hazard: Readytoeat pasta meals and prepared pasta salads potentially containing Listeria monocytogenes.

• Affected states/retailers: Products bearing Marketside, Trader Joes, Kroger, Albertsons, Giant Eagle brands, etc., sold nationwide in many grocery chains. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

• Illnesses/injuries: Linked in outbreak investigation to 20 illnesses, 19 hospitalizations, and 4 deaths. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

• Full notice: FDA Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Prepared Pasta Meals (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

• Additional recall alerts: FSIS has issued a public health alert for readytoeat meals containing recalled pasta. (FSIS)

Deepbrand frozen vegetables & fruit Salmonella risk

• Product / hazard: Various Deepbrand frozen vegetables and fruit products potentially contaminated with Salmonella.

• Affected states/retailers: Distributed nationally; multiple lots recalled/expanded. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

• Illnesses/injuries: WGS analysis confirmed that the strain in product samples matches the outbreak strain (i.e. the recall is tied to illnesses). (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

• Full notice: FDA Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Deepbrand Frozen Products (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Eggs Salmonella Enteritidis

• Product / hazard: Large brown cagefree sunshine / omega3 golden yolk eggs from Country Eggs, LLC.

• Affected states/retailers: Cases reported from 14 states; distribution footprint broad (source in California). (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

• Illnesses/injuries: 95 illnesses reported linked to the outbreak strain. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

• Full notice: FDA Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Eggs (August 2025) (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Consumers say discounts were misleading, cite examples of "fake sales"

• Consumers accuse Amazon of inflating Prime Day discounts with fictional list prices.

• Lawsuit cites examples where sale prices were no betteror even higherthan regular prices.

• Case follows broader scrutiny of Amazons sales tactics, including a $2.5 billion FTC settlement.

Amazon is facing a proposed class action lawsuit claiming it misled shoppers with false discounts during its July Prime Day sale.

The complaint, filed in September in federal court in Washington state, was brought by Cathy Armstrong of California and Oluwa Fosudo of Maryland. They allege that Amazon relied on fictional list prices to exaggerate percentage-off deals, creating the illusion of bigger savings.

Amazon uses these fake Prime Day Percentage Discounts, offered under the extreme time pressure of the brief Prime Day window, to lure consumers to purchase products, the lawsuit states.

Examples of fake sales

The filing cites several Prime Day promotions that plaintiffs argue were deceptive:

• A pair of headphones promoted as 44% off a list price of $179.95. Plaintiffs allege the product had never been sold above $160, with a typical price between $130 and $160.

• An 8-inch Android kids tablet marketed as 40% off a list price of $119.99. According to the lawsuit, Amazon had sold the device between $50 and $85 in the 90 days before Prime Day. The deal price of $72.18 was actually higher than its $50 price in April and roughly the same as its usual selling price.

The complaint argues that without Amazons allegedly inflated discounts, customers might have shopped around for better deals or waited for a lower price.

Quick checklist

Compare across sites Check the same product on at least two or three other major retailers.
Track price history Use tools like CamelCamelCamel, Honey, or Keepa to see if the deal price is really a bargain.
Watch the fine print Be cautious when the list price seems unusually high or doesnt match what youve seen before.
Dont rush Sales countdowns are designed to pressure shoppers. Take a pause before buying.
Look for was/now patterns If a products deal price is about the same as its usual selling price, the discount may be exaggerated.

Legal action builds on outside reporting

The lawsuit was filed shortly after Popular Information, a newsletter focused on corporate accountability, published a report highlighting questionable pricing tactics on Amazons site during the July 811 sale.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. Amazon also declined to comment. On its website, the company described the four-day sale as its biggest Prime event ever, claiming customers saved billions on deals.

The case adds to mounting scrutiny of Amazons marketing and sales practices. Just last month, the e-commerce giant agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that it tricked consumers into signing up for Prime and made cancellations difficult.

That settlement included a record-setting $1 billion civil penalty for violating FTC rules.

Meanwhile, Amazon continues to expand its Prime Day brand, hosting another sales event Oct. 78.

Perfect heres a sidebar explainer you can run alongside the main story. It follows the recall/scam package style youve been using:

Why retailers use fake discounts

• Anchoring effect: A high strikethrough price makes the actual price look better, even if it isnt.

• Urgency: Limited-time Prime Day or flash-sale events create a fear of missing out.

• Volume sales: Even small exaggerations can push thousands of extra purchases.

What to do if you think you overpaid

• Contact the seller: Ask for a price adjustment or refund if you can show the price was lower before or after the sale.

• Report it: File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your state attorney general if you believe discounts were deceptive.

• Leave a review: Warn other shoppers by leaving a factual review noting the price discrepancy.

Bottom line

A 40% off or limited-time deal may not always mean savings. The safest bet is to research a products real price history before clicking Buy Now.