latest news in economy

Credit Cards Outpace Debit Card Growth for the First Time in a Quarter Century

Credit Cards Outpace Debit Card Growth for the First Time in a Quarter Century

Washington, Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
A new Federal Reserve study reveals credit card transaction growth outpaced debit cards for the first time in 25 years, driving U.S. noncash payments to a record 236.6 billion.

Government Rollback Opens Retirement Plans to Riskier Investments

Government Rollback Opens Retirement Plans to Riskier Investments

Washington, Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
Following a recent regulatory rollback, financial advisors are no longer legally required to act in your best interest when managing 401(k) plans, opening retirement savings to high-risk investments.

The Urgent Friday Deadline to Claim Your Pandemic Tax Penalty Refund

The Urgent Friday Deadline to Claim Your Pandemic Tax Penalty Refund

Washington, Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
Following a key court ruling, taxpayers have until July 10 to claim refunds on over 120 million pandemic-era IRS penalties before the opportunity expires forever.

Boston Nurses Begin the Largest Healthcare Strike in Massachusetts History

Boston Nurses Begin the Largest Healthcare Strike in Massachusetts History

Boston, Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
Over 4,000 Brigham and Women’s Hospital nurses struck today over a disputed 0% cost-of-living raise, triggering a five-day lockout despite the parent system’s $35.8 billion in assets.

Renowned Chinese Economist Gao Shanwen Dies at 55

Renowned Chinese Economist Gao Shanwen Dies at 55

Beijing, Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
Renowned Chinese economist Gao Shanwen has died at 55. Widely respected for his candid market insights, he famously challenged official GDP data and navigated strict state censorship.

Las Vegas Home Sales Surge Defying High Mortgage Rates and Record Prices

Las Vegas Home Sales Surge Defying High Mortgage Rates and Record Prices

Las Vegas, Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
Las Vegas home sales surged 18% in June 2026, defying high mortgage rates as tight inventory held median single-family prices at a record-matching $490,000.

Federal Reserve Proposes New Money Laundering Rules for Banks

Federal Reserve Proposes New Money Laundering Rules for Banks

Washington, Tuesday, 7 July 2026.
On July 7, 2026, the Federal Reserve proposed updating compliance rules, shifting supervisory focus toward major program failures and forcing banks to prioritize high-risk customer activities.

New Federal List Identifies Rural Communities Qualifying for Bank Investment Credits

New Federal List Identifies Rural Communities Qualifying for Bank Investment Credits

Washington, Tuesday, 7 July 2026.
Released on June 30, 2026, the updated federal list helps banks target community investments, offering a one-year grace period for rural areas losing their distressed status.

Federal Reserve Backs Lighter Rules for Low-Risk Bank Artificial Intelligence

Federal Reserve Backs Lighter Rules for Low-Risk Bank Artificial Intelligence

Washington, Tuesday, 7 July 2026.
Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman advocated for a tiered global regulatory framework, arguing that low-risk artificial intelligence applications in banking deserve a lighter supervisory touch to encourage safe innovation.

Hiring Surges for Roles That Monitor and Secure Artificial Intelligence

Hiring Surges for Roles That Monitor and Secure Artificial Intelligence

San Francisco, Tuesday, 7 July 2026.
A new corporate hiring index reveals that demand for artificial intelligence governance specialists nearly doubled last quarter, while traditional web development roles plummeted.