The Consumer Spending Hangover: Why Retail Enters 2026 Facing a Debt Reality Check
After a record $1 trillion holiday season, the retail industry faces a spending hangover as consumers confront record credit card debt and BNPL balances coming due.
73 articles found for "debt"
New Year, New Money Goals: Why Paying Off Debt Tops Americans' Financial Resolutions for 2026
A new survey reveals paying off debt is the top financial resolution for 2026, with 25% of Americans prioritizing it. Here's what the data reveals about economic anxiety.
Holiday Spending Hits Record $1.29 Trillion, But America's Debt Dependency Raises Red Flags
The 2025 holiday season delivered record retail sales, but surging BNPL usage and credit card reliance suggest consumers are stretching further than ever.
The Great Consumer Retrenchment: January 2026 Brings the 'Spending Breather' Wall Street Feared
American consumers are pulling back after the holiday rush, with real spending growth expected to drop to just 1.5% in 2026 as debt levels and tariff fears weigh on households.
84% of Americans Are Making Financial Resolutions for 2026: Inside the 'Resolution Rebound'
A new Vanguard survey finds 84% of Americans are setting financial goals for 2026, with a focus on short-term savings and debt payoff after a challenging 2025.
Americans Finally Hit the Brakes on Credit Cards: Inside the First Spending Pullback in Years
Federal Reserve data shows Americans reduced credit card balances by $2.1 billion in November, marking the first pullback in revolving credit in nearly three years.
Small Business Optimism Hits 99.5 in December, Highest Since August, as Tax Worries Surge
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose for a second straight month to 99.5, above its 52-year average, though 20% now cite taxes as their top concern.
JPMorgan Warns: Tariff Costs Are About to Shift from Businesses to Consumers
JPMorgan analysts warn that businesses absorbed 80% of tariff costs in 2025, but that ratio could flip to 20% as companies finally pass through the $187 billion import tax burden.
Consumer Spending Plateau: Unit Sales Fall as Americans Buy Less Despite Higher Spending
Circana data shows American consumers bought fewer items in December despite flat dollar sales, signaling price sensitivity and potential spending fatigue as 2026 begins.
December Jobs Report Reveals Hiring at 5-Year Low: What the Labor Market Slowdown Means for Workers
The U.S. economy added just 50,000 jobs in December, well below forecasts and marking the weakest month for hiring since the pandemic recovery began.
Consumer Sentiment Rises to 54 in January But Remains Stubbornly Near Great Recession Lows
The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index edged up to 54 in January, but the reading remains exceptionally weak—below levels seen during the 2008 financial crisis.
December Retail Sales Beat Expectations as American Consumers Power Into 2026
US retail sales rose 0.6% in November with December data showing strength across 6 of 9 categories. Holiday spending exceeded $1 trillion as consumer resilience defies economic pessimism.