The Small Business Index has experienced a decline due to the lack of confidence small businesses have in the economy. The third quarter witnessed an eight-point drop in business confidence.

A recent surge in falling mortgage rates has put a stop to a four-month slide in builder confidence, sparking new construction on single-family housing across the United States. Economic indicators also suggest an upturn in housing conditions as we approach 2024.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has projected that holiday spending in November and December will surpass $957.3 billion in 2023, indicating a growth of 3% to 4% compared to the total holiday spending of $929.5 billion in 2022.

A study conducted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reveals that a significant number of Americans are taken aback by the high interest they incur on their overdraft fees. The report further suggests that these consumers have more affordable credit options at their disposal.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has identified that numerous college-sponsored financial products impose high and unusual fees. The annual student banking report discovered that students encounter steep costs and unfavorable terms on college-endorsed credit cards and a variety of financial products.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has ordered U.S. Bank to pay $21 million for engaging in illegal conduct during the COVID-19 pandemic. This ruling comes after tens of thousands of American workers lost access to their unemployment benefits due to the bank's actions.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has projected that the number of existing-home sales will reach 4.71 million in 2024, marking a 13.5% increase from the anticipated 4.1 million in 2023.

State legislators from across the country recently gathered at Stanford University to participate in The Hunt Institute's Early Childhood Policy Academy. The three-day event, co-hosted by the Stanford Center on Early Childhood, aimed to educate policymakers on the importance of investing in early childhood development.

The Office of Financial Research (OFR) has reported elevated threats to U.S. financial stability, concluding that the risks have increased since the previous year.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has mandated Atlantic Union Bank to pay $6.2 million for illicitly accumulating overdraft fees. The bank was found guilty of improperly enrolling customers into paying these fees.

Investments in productivity-boosting measures have resulted in an uptick in the U.S. Middle Market Business Index. The RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI) recorded a 4.7% surge in productivity during the third quarter.

A new study conducted by researchers at Stanford Medicine has found that the psychoactive drug ibogaine, when combined with magnesium, effectively reduces symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, and improves functioning in veterans with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The study, published in Nature Medicine, includes data from 30 veterans of U.S. special forces who underwent ibogaine treatment at a clinic in Mexico.