Spending Trends - The report explores the impact of having a child on new parents' spending habits across the country [1] Data Source - The analysis is based on conversations with new parents from across the country [1]

Spending Trends - Credit-card spending growth has decelerated compared to debit-card spending since late last year [1] - This marks the first such period of slower credit-card growth in nearly four years [1]

Government Finance & Risk - Romania's new prime minister warned of potential default [1] - The warning is due to years of lavish government spending [1] - Government needs to quickly control spending to avoid default [1]

Spending Analysis - Spending does not equate to status [1]

Industry Trend - Fast-food chains' breakfast business is declining as Americans reduce spending [1]

Economic Concerns & Policy - The dismissal of a technocrat, the head of an agency, due to disagreement with official government statistics is considered dangerous for the economy and evidence-based policy [1] - The credibility of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is crucial for businesses, investors, and policymakers, as they rely on objective, non-political data [1] - There are concerns about the politicization of the BLS commissioner role, making it difficult to find qualified individuals willing to take the job [2] Economic Resilience & Challenges - The economy has shown remarkable resilience to shocks, including the pandemic and tariffs [3][4] - Despite the economy's strengths, millions of Americans face challenges related to rising healthcare and housing costs [5] Budget & Spending - The budget deficit is a significant concern, especially with Congress passing legislation that adds $3 to $4 trillion in debt over the next 10 years [6][8] - Tariffs are seen as a source of revenue but are not sufficient to bring down costs [7][8] - The recent bill includes cuts to Medicaid and SNAP to offset the cost of extended tax cuts [9] - Rebalancing domestic spending priorities is necessary [10]

The AI arms race is accelerating as major tech companies add to their already gargantuan levels of spending. The bets are paying off for investors, but not for all employees. https://t.co/ih7lg9wAJY ...

Credit and Debt Dynamics - The US economy's total credit is approximately $50 trillion, significantly exceeding the total money supply of about $3 trillion [1] - Credit's impact is contingent on its use; it is detrimental when it fuels unsustainable overconsumption but beneficial when it efficiently allocates resources and generates income for debt repayment [3] - Borrowing facilitates increased spending, enabling incomes to temporarily outpace productivity, though this is unsustainable in the long term [2] Economic Cycles - Credit creation fosters self-reinforcing economic patterns, but borrowing inherently generates cycles, necessitating eventual corrections [5] - The economy demonstrates how credit amplifies spending and income, illustrated by examples of individuals leveraging credit cards to spend beyond their immediate earnings [4][5]

Heard on the Street: Slashing the cost of using credit cards could unleash spending https://t.co/lCdWHriUJP ...

Forbes Daily: Consumer Sentiment And Spending Defied Expectations In June https://t.co/IE1zVSWOLv ...