Consumer 'Spending Hangover' Emerges as Retail Growth Projected to Slow to 1.5% in 2026
After holiday sales crossed $1 trillion for the first time, analysts warn of a spending hangover in 2026. Real consumer spending growth may slow to just 1.5%.
191 articles found for "debt"
Consumer Revolving Credit Contracts for First Time in 18 Months as Americans Brace for Tariff Impact
Federal Reserve data shows revolving credit decreased at a 1.9% annual rate as consumers pull back on borrowing amid elevated interest rates and tariff-driven inflation fears.
The K-Shaped Consumer: Record Delinquencies and Record Spending Now Coexist in America's Split Economy
Credit card delinquencies have hit a five-year high while consumer spending remains robust. The paradox reveals an economy that's booming for some and buckling for others.
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.
The Boomcession: Why 60% of Americans Feel They're in a Recession While the Economy Technically Grows
Nearly 60% of Americans believe the US economy is in a recession despite positive GDP growth. Here's the economic and psychological truth behind the 'boomcession' — and what it means for your finances.
'Doom Spending' Has Become America's Coping Mechanism as 42% of Households Stockpile Goods and One in Five Make Panic Purchases Before Tariffs Hit
A new survey reveals 42% of U.S. households are stockpiling non-perishable food, toilet paper, and medical supplies while one in five Americans admit to 'doom spending' driven by tariff fears.
America's K-Shaped Economy Reality: Top 20% Now Drive Record 57% of Consumer Spending
New data reveals America's economic divide has reached historic proportions, with the wealthiest 20% accounting for 57% of all consumer spending while lower-income households struggle.
America's Emergency Savings Crisis Reaches Breaking Point: 27% of Adults Have Nothing Saved
Bankrate's 2026 survey reveals record-high financial fragility as more than one in four Americans have zero emergency savings and only 47% could cover a $1,000 expense.
The Personal Savings Rate Has Fallen to 3.5% and the Gap Between What Americans Earn and What They Spend Has Never Been This Wide Outside of a Recession
The personal savings rate has dropped to 3.5%, near its lowest level since 2005. With disposable income growth stalling at 0.1% and consumer spending still rising, the math is unsustainable.
The Warning Hidden in America's Shrinking Savings Rate: Why Falling Below 4% for the First Time Since 2022 Should Concern Every American Household
America's personal savings rate has dropped to 3.5%, the lowest since 2022. With consumer spending declining and tariff fatigue setting in, here's what this trend means for household financial health.
Moody's Just Cut the 2026 Consumer Spending Forecast to 1.5%, and the K-Shaped Economy It Reveals Is the Most Dangerous Force in American Finance Right Now
Moody's projects real consumer spending growth of just 1.5% in 2026. Lower-income Americans are cutting dining, travel, and fitness as the K-shaped economy widens.
Tax Refunds Are Up 11% This Season With the Average Check at $2,290, and Financial Advisors Say What You Do With It in the Next 30 Days Could Define Your Year
IRS data shows the average tax refund is $2,290 so far in 2026, up 10.9% from last year. Financial experts say the way most Americans spend their refund is the biggest missed opportunity of the year.