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]

AI Investment & Competition - The AI arms race is accelerating, with major tech companies increasing their already massive spending [1] - These investments are proving profitable for investors [1] Impact on Workforce - The benefits of AI investment are not being equally distributed among all employees [1]

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 ...