Posted on

5 Money-Saving Tips on Car Rentals

Road trip season is upon us, and for many travelers, that means negotiating the ins and outs of the rental car contract. From rewards programs to selecting the best pick-up location, there are numerous ways you can save money on your next car rental. Follow these five money-saving tips for keeping you on the road […]
Posted on

Americans Saving More Than Last Year

Key findings from the recently-released 2016 Financial Literacy Survey indicate that Americans are sharpening their focus on personal savings, with slight increases among those who say they are saving more than last year (26 percent in 2016 vs. 24 percent in 2015). The portion of those contributing income toward non-retirement savings has returned to its […]
Posted on

Less Than Half of Households Are Saving

How well is America saving? The ninth annual America Saves Week survey has found that only two-fifths (40 percent) of U.S. households report good or excellent progress in “meeting their savings needs.” This widespread lack of savings progress is consistent with responses to other survey questions: Saving at least 5 percent of one’s income (49%) […]
Posted on

Consumer Spending Has Biggest Increase in Eight Months

(TNS)—Consumers ramped up their spending in January at the fastest pace in eight months as incomes also continued to grow at a strong pace in a sign economic growth is improving after slowing at the end of last year. Inflation also picked up last month, which could help push Federal Reserve policymakers to enact another […]
Posted on

Consumer Spending Shows Solid Growth as Incomes Rise

(TNS)—Consumer spending, a key driver of the U.S. economy, showed solid growth last month to kick off the holiday shopping season as incomes also kept rising, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. After spending stagnated in October, Americans opened their wallets wider last month. Consumer spending increased 0.3 percent in November, in line with economists’ forecasts. […]
Posted on

Failure to Launch Syndrome Can Hurt Household Budgets

Budget-conscious Americans say they are feeling the pinch from the responsibility of providing financial support for adult children, according to a new survey by American Consumer Credit Counseling. Half of those polled during the month of September by ACCC says they are footing at least some of the bills for at least one adult child over […]
Posted on

Consumer Credit Default Rates Decrease in September 2015

Consumer credit default rates decreased in September 2015, with the composite rate ranking at 0.89 percent, down seven basis points from the previous month, according to data released by S&P Dow Jones Indices and Experian. The bank card default rate was 2.77 percent for September, up six basis points from August. The auto loan default […]
Posted on

U.S. Housing Starts Fall 3 Percent in August

Housing starts in August fell 3 percent to an annual rate of 1.13 million units (SAAR), according to a recent Census Bureau report. “The small dip in August housing starts is minor considering the sustained momentum we’ve seen in housing overall in 2015,” says Quicken Loans Vice President Bill Banfield. “When you couple the slow […]
Posted on

Consumer Confidence Makes a Comeback in August

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had declined in July, rebounded in August. The Index now stands at 101.5 (1985=100), up from 91.0 in July. The Present Situation Index increased from 104.0 last month to 115.1 in August, while the Expectations Index improved to 92.5 from 82.3 in July. The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey®, […]
Posted on

6 Financial To-Do’s before Going on a Trip

(TNS)–While people disagree on many topics, there’s one thing most people can agree on: Vacations are great. Some might prefer big cities or public beaches, while others seek out quiet countrysides or towering mountains. Whatever your vacation dreams happen to be, it’s important to plan your trip so it goes smoothly. Travel experts and financial […]