The financial news that actually matters
American grocery shoppers are catching a break on one staple that dominated household budgets for the past two years. Egg prices have fallen roughly 35 percent from their 2025 peaks, according to federal data, even as most other grocery categories continue to climb. The decline coincides with a federal antitrust case alleging that major egg…
Most American households filing taxes for 2026 will skip the process of tracking receipts and tallying deductible expenses. The IRS set the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly at $32,200 for tax year 2026, with $16,100 for single filers and $24,150 for heads of household. Those figures, which apply to returns filed in 2027,…
More than 164,000 tech workers have lost their jobs so far in 2026, and Oracle sits at the top of that list after shedding roughly 21,000 full-time positions in a single fiscal year. The cuts reflect a sector-wide shift as companies redirect spending toward artificial intelligence, leaving tens of thousands of employees searching for new…
Gas Express LLC, a company linked to Circle K convenience store operations, formally reported a data breach to Massachusetts regulators in January 2025, triggering consumer notifications and a claims process that offers affected customers a flat $50 payment without requiring proof of harm. The deadline to file a claim falls on September 3, giving customers…
California shoppers throw away an estimated 2.5 billion meals worth of unspoiled food each year, driven in large part by a patchwork of confusing date stamps on packages. Starting with products manufactured on or after July 1, 2026, a new state law called AB 660 will restrict which phrases can appear on food labels, replacing…
American grocery shoppers hunting for the lowest prices are finding their best deals at warehouse clubs, according to Consumer Reports’ latest ranking of the cheapest U.S. grocery chains. The evaluation placed bulk-format retailers like Costco and Sam’s Club at the top, ahead of traditional supermarkets, at a time when food costs remain a persistent pressure…
Millions of lower-earning workers who put money into a retirement account or an ABLE savings account can reduce their federal tax bill by up to $1,000 per person, or $2,000 for joint filers, through a tax break called the Saver’s Credit. The credit applies to contributions made to IRAs, 401(k) plans, and similar employer-sponsored accounts,…
As health costs climb, one account type offers a rare triple break from the tax code: the health savings account. Under Internal Revenue Code section 223, HSAs combine deductible contributions, tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified care, a structure that federal agencies describe as “triple-tax advantaged.” With 2026 contribution limits already set, the stakes…
American families ended 2025 carrying more debt than at any point on record. Total U.S. household debt reached $18.8 trillion in the fourth quarter, a figure drawn from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Consumer Credit Panel built on Equifax data. The milestone reflects steady expansion across mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards, and…
Families with qualifying children stand to receive a larger Child Tax Credit when they file for tax year 2026, with the maximum credit set at $2,200 per child after Congress permanently raised the figure through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The refundable portion, known as the Additional Child Tax Credit, reaches up to $1,700…