On the face of it, $1.7 trillion in “excess” personal savings is a lot of firepower — enough to keep consumer spending buoyant through, and well beyond, the holiday season. But there’s a lopsided aspect as to just who holds that money, and the signals...
Thanks in part to government intervention during the pandemic, Americans have banked about $1.7 trillion in savings, according to the Federal Reserve. And as the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) noted in a report Sunday (Oct. 30), this could make it more difficult for the Fed...
Economic conditions in the United States are consistent with a tight labor market — most consumers looking for work can find it. The unemployment rate stands at just 3.5%, dropping from 4.7% in September 2021 and 7.9% in August 2020. Despite the low unemployment rate,...
With paycheck-to-paycheck living now the norm for U.S. households including the highest earners, many consumers are trying to improve their lot by switching jobs, but the latest research suggests this tactic is iffy at best, and unlikely to move the needle for most. In “New...
As European consumers look to mitigate against continent-wide inflationary pressure, many are tightening their purse strings ahead of what may be a difficult winter. Across the continent, soaring food and fuel prices mean keeping finances in order is more important than ever. Learn more: UK’s...
The United States is entering month 18 of the inflation crisis — and the toll it is taking on consumers’ finances is high. Consumers across the country spent a collective $64 billion more on just the bare essentials in Q3 2021 than they did in...
Over 60% of American are now living paycheck to paycheck, and close to one-quarter of U.S. consumers live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to meet monthly expenses. That harsh reality shows up in the products they buy — or don’t — and related financial behaviors. Exploring this...
Restaurants may be doing everything in their power to price below the rate of food inflation, and even below the rate of inflation overall, but consumers are nevertheless noting significant increases in the costs of their favorite meals. By the Numbers Research from PYMNTS’ September...
Unpacking how U.S. consumers at all income levels are making ends meet reveals that paycheck-to-paycheck living is becoming — or already is — accepted as a dominant lifestyle today, and it’s likely to be with us for some time to come, with or without a...