Your Money

In 2013, Americans on average spent 5.6 percent of their disposable personal incomes on food they consumed at home.

Economy

Your Grandparents Spent More Of Their Money On Food Than You Do

2:11pm March 05, 2015

by Eliza Barclay

Shelling out dough at the grocery store can often feel painful. But Americans on average actually spend far less on food relative to their income than they did 50 years ago.

The IRS and the Department of Education have the power to make the FAFSA easier without cutting questions. So why haven't they?

The Magic Trick That Could Help Students Pay For College

8:29pm March 04, 2015

by Cory Turner

The IRS and the Department of Education already have the power to make the Free Application for Federal Student Aid easier without cutting questions. So why haven't they?

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People With Low Incomes Say They Pay A Price In Poor Health

7:39am March 03, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

People with household incomes of less than $25,000 a year say in a new poll that the lack of cash really hurts their health. Low-quality food and dangerous housing are two reasons why.

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Higher Wages, Lower Prices Give Consumers A Break

1:54pm March 02, 2015

by Marilyn Geewax

Something very unusual is happening in the U.S. economy. Traditionally, workers lose buying power to rising prices. But lately, paychecks and prices have been heading in opposite directions.

Bigger paychecks plus lower prices add up to more buying power for consumers.

Wages And Prices: A Welcome Breakup

1:49pm March 02, 2015

by Marilyn Geewax

A Commerce Department report shows paychecks are fatter, prices are leaner and Americans are saving more. Meanwhile, prices fell by 0.5 percent. That's helping consumers on the rebound from recession.

Shopping for an MRI scan? Guroo.org, won't yet show you what your local hospital or radiologist charges, but it will reveal the average cost of the test in your area.

Attention, Shoppers: Prices For 70 Health Care Procedures Now Online!

4:04pm February 27, 2015

by Jay Hancock

It's not exactly Priceline.com for knee replacements. But a website from the nonprofit Health Care Cost Institute could helping patients shop around for the best values.

Diners fill Riverpark, a New York City restaurant, in January. Restaurateurs fear that the tipped-wage hike being proposed in New York will force them to get rid of tipping altogether.

Economy

Will A Tipped-Wage Hike Kill Gratuities For New York's Waiters?

7:20pm February 24, 2015

by Joel Rose

New York's wage board is proposing a boost in the minimum wage for people who work for tips. Some restaurateurs say this could raise labor costs and force them to drop tipping and raise menu prices.

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Study Suggests Recession, Recovery Have Not Left The Rich Richer

2:56pm February 20, 2015

by Jim Zarroli

Conventional wisdom is that income inequality has gotten worse in the years since the financial crisis, but new research by a George Washington University professor says that's not what the data show.

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Administration Grants Tax Time Reprieve For Obamacare Procrastinators

2:02pm February 20, 2015

by Phil Galewitz

There will be a special insurance enrollment period from March 15 to April 30 for people to use HealthCare.gov if they discover they owe a penalty for not having coverage when filling out their taxes.

Despite Recovery, Many Find Home Loans Still Hard To Get

1:54pm February 20, 2015

by Chris Arnold

The housing market and the economy are both well on their way back from the Great Recession. But housing advocates say banks, stung by the housing crisis and its fallout, remain reluctant to lend.

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