D-keine | E+ | Getty Images The average tax refund is 10.9% higher so far this season, compared to about the same point in 2025, according to early filing data from the IRS. The 2026 tax season opened Jan. 26, and the average refund amount was $2,290 as of Feb. 6, up from $2,065 about…
Cavan Images | Cavan | Getty Images At the start of 2025, during President Joe Biden’s final weeks in office, lawmakers pushed forward with last-minute major legislation that provides Social Security benefit increases to certain public pensioners. The Social Security Fairness Act was passed with an overwhelming bipartisan majority in both the House and Senate,…
A worker stocks beef filets in the meat section of a grocery store in Washington. Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images Inflation decelerated in January as price pressures eased across a range of consumer staples such as food and gasoline, though they remain elevated for certain categories, including electricity and home heating,…
Signs of rising financial stress, particularly among middle-income Americans, are warning flags about the U.S. economy’s health in 2026, experts say. Spending growth for higher-income Americans remained relatively stable between January 2025 and January 2026, according to internal transaction data from Bank of America Institute released this week. However, spending growth slowed for lower- and…
Hispanolistic | E+ | Getty Images The average tax refund is 22% higher so far this season, Treasury Secretary and acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Friday. The 2026 tax season opened Jan. 26, and the IRS has not yet released official filing data. It’s unclear how many days of returns…
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin talks to residents and small business owners impacted by the Palisades Fire on Feb. 4, 2026 in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty Images The Trump administration repealed a key defense in the U.S. fight against climate change — and it will likely have…
Sturti | E+ | Getty Images Even Americans who are covered by health insurance can emerge from medical emergencies with long-lasting financial scars. In a new study published this month in the journal Health Affairs, researchers found that 18 months after being hospitalized for a traumatic injury — such as a car accident or fall…
ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email New data shows a growing financial strain on U.S. households is reflected not only in the divide between rich and poor. There’s also a widening gap in spending growth between higher income and middle income households, reflecting affordability issues impacting millions of…
Artistgndphotography | E+ | Getty Images With many expecting a bigger tax refund this season, there may be an incentive to file returns sooner. But that doesn’t mean you should rush to send yours. First, you’ll need all the necessary tax forms, or you could risk processing delays — or worse, experts say. Every year,…
Skynesher | E+ | Getty Images New laws enacted in 2025 may have a big impact on how much Social Security beneficiaries pay in taxes this season. On Jan. 5, 2025, President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act, a law that ended provisions that reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits for more than…