SmartReads

The U.S. population continues to grow, but that growth has slowed dramatically, with the year-over-year increase now below 1%. Some areas feel this shift more acutely than others, and a few states are experiencing population declines. A growing population can increase labor availability and expand the consumer base, supporting economic growth. At the same time,… read more…

As housing, grocery, transportation and other essential costs pressure household budgets, earning a six-figure salary no longer guarantees financial comfort in much of the U.S. A single adult now needs at least $80,000 a year to live comfortably in every state, while the threshold exceeds $100,000 in nearly half of states. For a family of… read more…

Rising home prices, combined with limited housing supply, have made it challenging for young adults to enter the housing market. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, nearly 9 in 10 younger Americans say it is harder for them to buy a home than it was for their parents. Nonetheless, younger buyers continue to… read more…

Inflation erodes purchasing power by pushing up the cost of everyday goods and services. In many U.S. cities, median household income has outpaced inflation by a wide margin, offsetting the impact of rising costs. In others, however, residents are falling far enough behind to intensify the squeeze on household budgets. SmartAsset ranked 94 major population… read more…