Economy

Economy

National Debt Crosses $40 Trillion for the First Time as Interest Costs Overtake the Defense Budget

Gross federal debt passed $40 trillion on August 18, 2026, as net interest costs are projected to exceed national defense spending for the first time.

23d ago

Economy

Trump Promised $1.85 Gas. The National Average Just Hit $4.06, the Highest August on Record

The national average for regular gasoline hit about $4.06 on August 17, 2026 - the highest price ever recorded for this point in August, and more than two dollars above the $1.85 Trump promised.

25d ago

Economy

$100 Billion in ‘Liberation Day’ Tariff Refunds Is Flowing to Corporations – While the Shoppers Who Paid Get Nothing

About $100 billion in struck-down 'Liberation Day' tariffs is being refunded to importers and corporations like Apple - not to the shoppers who paid higher prices at the register.

37d ago

Economy

California’s Minimum Wage Jumps to $17.40 in 2027 as the Federal Rate Stays Frozen at $7.25

California's minimum wage rises to $17.40 an hour on January 1, 2027 - the highest in the nation - through an automatic inflation adjustment, while the federal minimum stays frozen at $7.25 since 2009.

41d ago

Economy

Starting January 1, California’s Minimum Wage Hits $17.40 – More Than $10 Above the Federal Rate Frozen at $7.25 Since 2009

California's minimum wage rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027 - more than $10 above a federal floor frozen at $7.25 since 2009.

42d ago

Economy

NYC Forces Delivery Apps to Restore Tip Prompts, Securing $104 Million for Workers

After NYC required delivery apps to bring back up-front tipping at checkout, workers collected an estimated $104 million in additional tips, with average tips nearly doubling.

43d ago

Economy

Cracker Barrel’s CEO Is Out One Year After a Logo Rebrand That Wiped Out $100 Million and Sparked a Customer Revolt

Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino is stepping down on August 10, 2026, about a year after a logo rebrand backlash tied to a roughly $100 million market-value drop. David Deno takes over.

46d ago

Economy

Ford Rehires 350 Veteran Engineers After Its AI Quality Systems Fell Short

Ford brought back about 350 veteran engineers after its AI-driven quality systems fell short, crediting the move with hundreds of millions in savings and its first J.D. Power quality win since 2010.

74d ago

Economy

Nearly 3 Million Americans Have Dropped Obamacare as Premiums Double When Subsidies Expired

ACA enrollment fell from 22.1 million to 19.2 million after enhanced premium subsidies expired on January 1, roughly doubling average costs and pricing millions of working families out of coverage.

76d ago

Economy

Just 12 Days After Becoming the World’s First Trillionaire, Elon Musk’s Fortune Crashes Back Below $1 Trillion

Elon Musk's net worth fell back below $1 trillion just 12 days after he became the world's first trillionaire, as SpaceX shares tumbled in a broad tech sell-off. He remains the richest person alive.

79d ago

Economy

Senate Passes Bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act 85-5 to Lower Housing Costs

The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act 85-5, aiming to lower housing costs and limit Wall Street from buying up single-family homes. It now heads to the House.

81d ago

Economy

California Drivers Sue BP, Marathon, 7-Eleven and Walmart Over Alleged AI Gas Price Inflation

A proposed class-action lawsuit accuses BP, Marathon, 7-Eleven, and Walmart of allegedly using AI pricing software to coordinate and inflate California gas prices.

81d ago