Money, Wealth & Power—A Daily Look at the Financial World
Grocery prices are squeezing middle-class retirees harder than most other consumer groups, with a third of retirees reporting that food bills strain their budgets. The USDA Economic Research Service’s January 2026 Food Price Outlook forecasts a 3.0 percent increase in all food prices this year, with a prediction interval stretching as high as 5.9 percent….
Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary has singled out two financial habits he says are wrecking the average American’s ability to build wealth: living beyond one’s means through credit card debt and frittering away money on unnecessary daily purchases. The blunt critique, which targets behaviors O’Leary considers widespread and self-inflicted, arrives as household spending pressures and…
Artificial intelligence has moved from curiosity to workhorse inside small businesses, creator studios, and solo hustles, and the money is following. From AI agents that answer phones to automated content engines, the most promising side gigs now combine human judgment with machine efficiency. Here are seven AI-powered plays already generating real revenue in 2026, along…
A growing share of American taxpayers plan to steer their refund checks toward rent, groceries, and credit card bills this filing season, treating the annual windfall less like a bonus and more like a budget patch. Survey data from TaxSlayer and Talker Research shows that essentials now dominate refund spending plans, while separate polling finds…
United Airlines Holdings Inc. is restructuring its MileagePlus loyalty program so that the most valuable earning rates and award discounts apply only to co-branded credit cardholders. The changes take effect for tickets purchased on or after April 2, 2026, and they will cut mileage accrual rates for members who do not carry a United card….
The U.S. Department of Education has reopened online applications for income-driven repayment plans and loan consolidation after a federal court injunction forced a temporary shutdown, putting thousands of borrowers back in line for potential forgiveness. The move comes as a Government Accountability Office investigation found that the department historically failed to track qualifying payments, leaving…
About 80 million Americans now report falling behind on household expenses including utilities, according to federal survey data, and the forces driving their bills higher are not slowing down. A combination of rising retail electricity prices, extreme weather repair costs, and surging power demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure is pushing energy costs well beyond what…
A new report authored by Chad Maisel and Stanford economist Neale Mahoney puts a price tag on the hidden fees, spam calls, and bureaucratic time sinks that eat into American wallets and schedules: at least $165 billion a year. The Groundwork Collaborative released the findings on February 9, 2026, framing the problem as an “annoyance…
Retirees are redefining what a “once in a lifetime” trip looks like, trading five-star excess for smart planning and high-impact experiences. With flexible schedules and the freedom to travel in shoulder seasons, many can finally check off dream destinations without draining their nest egg. The key is choosing places where the dollar stretches, transportation is…
Runaway prices, higher borrowing costs and algorithm-fueled temptation are putting real pressure on household budgets, and the wrong habits can quietly drain even healthy savings accounts. The most damaging traps are rarely dramatic blowups, but small, repeating decisions that compound into chronic shortfalls and long-term stress. By spotting 13 of the biggest money pitfalls early…