Economic News Archives

Category: Economic News

The macro economy has a large impact on your personal finances. To help you manage your money better we track the import economic trends. Stay up to date so you can be prepared to adjust your personal finance strategies.

illustration of credit card and a line of people

Survey: 45% of Americans Rely on Credit Amid Inflation

A new survey highlights the link between continued inflation and how Americans are using credit. About the survey results: According to a Debt.com survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, a significant number of consumers are currently relying on credit. In fact, 45% of respondents cite inflation and price increases as the reason for their credit usage. Furthermore, 35% say they've maxed out their cards in recent years as a result of...
view of Paterson, New Jersey

Paterson, NJ Releases Results of Basic Income Test Program

After completing a basic income pilot program in 2022, Paterson, New Jersey has released some of the initiative's findings. About the program and results: From June 2021 through June 2022, the City of Paterson gave 110 residents monthly payments of $400 with no strings attached. To qualify, individuals needed to make less than $30,000 per year while families with incomes under $88,000 could also qualify. Meanwhile, while the program was...
US GDP Growth Chart

The United States Economy Grew 3.3% in Q4 2023

A new report shows that the United States economy continued to expand in the last quarter of 2023. About the numbers: According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) increased 3.3% in the fourth quarter. As CNN Business notes, although that's down from the 4.9% growth rate recorded in the third quarter of the year, it's more than double the 1.5% growth economists expected. For...
US Decmer 2034 jobs report graph

United States Economy Added an Estimated 216,000 in December

The United States economy closed out 2023 with yet another impressive jobs report. About the report: According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the U.S. economy gained 216,000 jobs in the last month of 2023. That easily beat the 175,00 jobs expected by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate was flat month-over-month, sticking at 3.7% (economists had anticipated it to tick up). While December's figures were...
IRS on top of coin stacks

IRS Announces 2024 Tax Brackets, Adjusted Standard Deduction

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released its latest inflation adjustments for the next tax year, including updated tax brackets and standard deduction figures. About the updates: As it does nearly every year, the IRS has updated the tax bracket figures for the 2024 tax year. Next year's marginal tax rates will retain the same basic tiers (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%) that were installed in 2018....
October 2023 US Jobs Report graph

U.S. Economy Adds 150k Jobs in October, Unemployment Ticks Up

This morning, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics released its initial jobs report for October 2023. About the report: Headlining today's report, the U.S. economy added an estimated 150,000 jobs last month. That's below the 170,000 jobs that economists surveyed by Wall Street Journal forecasted. But, it's expected that the figures would have been closer to 180,000 jobs if not for the auto workers strike in October. Despite that added...
blocks with 401K on them

Report: 401(k) Balances Rise, Hardship Withdrawals Increase

A newly-released report looking at 401(k) account balances at Bank of America shows that, while overall balances are trending upward, more people are also requesting hardship distributions. About the report: According to the BofA report, the average 401(k) account balance at the end of last quarter was $82,300. That's up by $7,250 so far in 2023, representing a 9.6% increase. In the second quarter, the average contribution came in at...
gas pump

U.S. Gas Prices Surge Week Over Week

Americans setting off on late-summer road trips are likely to encounter higher prices at the pump due to a confluence of factors. The latest figures: According to the newest data from GasBuddy, the national average for a gallon of gasoline rose 16.5¢ from one week prior. Currently, the average is $3.72 per gallon based on price data from more than 150,000 stations across the country. Similarly, the price of diesel...
The "Email" field is empty, you must enter some text to proceed.The text you entered in the "Email" field appears to be invalid, please edit it and try again
Get the Latest News Delivered to Your Inbox

A Guide to Building Credit and Increasing Your Credit Scores

When it comes to credit, there’s some good news. The average credit score in the United States has been steadily rising in recent years, coming in at 715 in 2023. That may be because, today, consumers not only have more ways to access their credit reports and scores than ever before but also because there are an increasing number of options that Americans have for building credit in the first...
Chase Freedom Flex card

Chase Reveals Q2 2024 Freedom 5%(+) Bonus Categories

Chase has announced its bonus category picks for the second quarter of 2024 — including some interesting twists. About the categories: As April approaches, Chase has revealed what categories Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders can earn bonuses on. From April 1st through June 30th, customers can earn 5% (or more) in three categories: Amazon.com, Hotels, and Restaurants. Similar to how Chase embraced a "New Year, New Me" theme last quarter,...

FedEx Announces Winners of 11th Annual 2023 Small Business Grant Contest

Nearly three months after the entry period ended, FedEx has announced the winners of its 11th annual Small Business Grant Content. This year's event saw more than $300,000 in funds going to a variety of small businesses across the nation. Last month, the company revealed 100 finalists, with that list now being narrowed down to just 10 winners. This year's grand prize winners included KindVR, The Cupcake Collection, Up In...
H-E-B and Central Market  credit cards

Imprint Launches Credit Cards from H-E-B and Central Market 

The FinTech Imprint is partnering with the popular Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B for a pair of new rewards credit cards. This week saw the launch of the H-E-B Visa Signature Credit Card as well as the Central Market Visa Signature Credit Card. With these two (nearly identical) options, customers will be able to earn rewards on groceries and beyond. First, both versions of the card earn up to 5% back on select...
Summer app

Student Loan Benefit FinTech Summer Raises $6 Million

For years, student debt has been one of the most talked about financial topics. What's more, while the debt itself has become a major part of many Americans' lives, discussion of student loans has become political due to efforts to forgive certain loan repayments. However, while we wait for resolution on that front, a FinTech that brings student debt benefit solutions to employers and consumers has raised a new round...