Economy news and trends

Business Applications Jump 24% as AI Lowers Startup Costs
Artificial Intelligence // July 14, 2026

New U.S. business applications hit 5.6 million in 2025 and have risen 24% since ChatGPT launched, Citadel Securities reported in a July research note, citing data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited...

CPI Cooled but the Consumer Is Still Sweating
Economy // July 14, 2026

The latest inflation report offers consumers something that has been absent for much of the past several years: a measurable decline in overall prices. Whether that translates into stronger spending, however, is a separate question. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this...

Small Business Optimism Rises as Oil Prices Moderate
Economy // July 14, 2026

Small business optimism increased in June, driven by owners’ expectations for better business conditions and sales, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) said in a Tuesday (July 14) press release. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited...

Dimon Says AI Will Make Banking Better and Tougher
Earnings // July 14, 2026

It’s all about the consumer and artificial intelligence, even on a day when five big banks were tracking record-setting earnings. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required....

Interviews & Exclusives
Banks and FinTechs Give Consumers New Ways to Weather a Rainy Day

July 10, 2026
The emergency fund used to sit in a savings account, earned modest interest, and waited for the water heater to fail or the transmission to give out. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our […]

New Data Shows Why One Consumer Economy Has Become Three

July 10, 2026
Consumer spending has become less about confidence and more about financial capacity, and that shift is giving banks and payments providers a clearer map of growth opportunities. Get the Full...

Fuel Costs Push Employers to Rethink Worker Benefits

July 03, 2026
Volatile gasoline prices are doing more than squeezing household budgets. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content...

Household Bills Turn Optimism Into Deferred Purchases

June 30, 2026
Consumers still have a strong appetite to spend, but many have lost the room in their budgets to act on it. New PYMNTS Intelligence research suggests that while financial pressures...

Quick Reads
Small Business Optimism Rises as Oil Prices Moderate

July 14, 2026
Small business optimism increased in June, driven by owners’ expectations for better business conditions and sales, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) said in a Tuesday (July 14) press release. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins […]

Tech Leaders and Economists Call for AI Guardrails to Protect Workers

July 13, 2026
Artificial intelligence is transforming the economy, and now is the time to ensure that the technology benefits society, according to a statement signed by more than 200 economists and AI...

Warsh Recruits Andreessen, McMillon to Rethink Fed Methods

July 09, 2026
The Federal Reserve has announced the leaders of five task forces that will examine the Fed’s methods, analytical tools and policy approaches and provide “candid feedback” for the Federal Open Market Committee. Get the Full...

Former Fed Chief Ben Bernanke Joins Anthropic’s Watchdog Group

July 09, 2026
Former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke joined Anthropic’s Long-Term Benefit Trust (LTBT), an independent body that works to hold Anthropic to its mission of responsibly developing artificial intelligence for the...