Nearly a quarter of households live paycheck to paycheck, report finds

The percentage of Americans just scraping by financially is rising as wage growth slows and inflation flares, Bank of America finds.

• Nov 17

You're living in a "K-shaped" economy. Here's how that affects you.

The shape of economic growth this year highlights the widening gap between wealthy Americans and everyone else, economists say.

• Nov 5

Pediatrician who helped expose Flint's water crisis now fighting poverty

Dr. Mona Hanna created Rx kids, a program that gives cash to pregnant moms with no strings attached.

• Oct 20

Outgoing Ford Foundation president on new book

The new book "The Idea of America" hopes to narrow growing divisions among Americans. Author Darren Walker, outgoing president of the Ford Foundation, joins "The Takeout" to discuss how there is more that unites us than divides us.

• Oct 2
• 05:04

Financial burden rises for transportation

America's affordability crisis is getting worse. Average Americans are struggling to afford rent, groceries and transportation. Elise Preston reports on the economic struggle many face to even leave their home.

• Jun 18
• 02:51

These are the faces of the affordability crisis in the U.S.

A teacher, a police officer and a senior job seeker share the stress and frustration of trying to stay afloat amid surging costs.

• Jun 12

Reporter's Notebook: Tax plan gamble

A new tax proposal backed by President Trump would give the biggest benefits to the top earners, while cutting support for the poor. If the promised growth doesn't come, the most vulnerable will pay the price. "CBS Evening News" co-anchor John Dickerson explains.

• Jun 12
• 02:05

Police officer shares struggle to buy first home

Americans are sharing their struggles to make ends meet in CBS News' series, "The Cost of Living." A rookie cop in Connecticut talks about the challenges of buying his first home.

• Jun 11
• 02:28

Teacher on $37,000 salary fights to stay afloat

In a recent CBS News poll, two out of three Americans said they're stressed about their own finances, while three out of four said their incomes are not keeping up with inflation. A single mom of three shows what it's like to make ends meet on a teacher's salary of $37,000.

• Jun 10
• 02:35

Almost 98% of nation's wealth is owned by top half of Americans

Top households are grabbing a larger share of the nation's wealth, a trend experts say could accelerate due to tax cuts and tariffs, experts say.

• Apr 1

Homelessness surged a record 18% in 2024

Homelessness in the U.S. jumped 18.1% this year, hitting a record level, with the dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing and devastating natural disasters, officials say. Lilia Luciano has the story.

• Dec 27, 2024
• 02:04

The more wealth you have, the happier you get, research finds

Multimillionaires are much happier than the merely well off, suggesting life satisfaction continues to improve the wealthier you are.

• Jul 26, 2024

Growing divide in Wyoming as billionaires send prices sky-high

Teton County's $108,000 median income is still not enough to afford the $7 million average cost for a home in Jackson Hole.

• Jul 9, 2024

Here's how much income it takes to be considered rich in your state

The income needed to join your state's top earners can vary considerably, from a low of $329,620 annually in West Virginia to $719,253 in Washington D.C.

• Apr 26, 2024

Here's how much money you need to be in the 1%

It takes substantially more money to be considered an ultra high net worth individual.

• Feb 28, 2024

Single women in the U.S. own more homes than single men

American women have pulled ahead of men when it comes to building wealth through homeownership, according to LendingTree.

• Jan 19, 2024

Young Americans and the economy

38% of Gen Z and millennials say they are having a harder time growing financial wealth compared to their parents at the same age, according to a new survey from Bankrate. Sarah Foster, an analyst at Bankrate, joined CBS News to discuss the findings.

• Jan 18, 2024
• 05:11

Taraji P. Henson says "the math ain't mathing" on pay equity in entertainment

It's not the first time Henson has spoken out on this topic, revealing that she only made $150,000 for her Academy Award-nominated role in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

• Dec 21, 2023

How much are houses in big cities?

There is a disconnect in most U.S. markets of how much money people are earning, and how much it would cost to buy a home. CBS MoneyWatch associate managing editor Aimee Picchi joins CBS News with data on how much houses cost in major cities around the country.

• Nov 10, 2023
• 03:51

Richest 20% now richer than before COVID: Fed

Americans were able to save more money during the pandemic because they were spending less due to lockdown restrictions, but new data from the Federal Reserve shows that excess money has now run out for most people. Alex Tanzi, a senior editor for the U.S. economy team at Bloomberg, joined CBS News to discuss how the rich have gotten richer and everyone else has, at best, what they had before the coronavirus pandemic.

• Sep 27, 2023
• 03:31

The economy's long, hot, and uncertain summer — CBS News poll

High prices and interest rates are still weighing on personal budgets.

• Jul 30, 2023

Geography of American poverty: "Internal colonies" where life is short

The most disadvantaged communities around the U.S. are rural and suffer from a history of injustice, a new book finds.

• Jul 27, 2023

Ivy colleges favor rich kids, but middle-class students face obstacles

Students from middle-income families are the least likely to gain admission to elite universities in the U.S., Harvard researchers say.

• Jul 24, 2023

Guaranteed income program helps single mother make ends meet

There are now about 130 guaranteed income pilot programs in the U.S., offering monthly stipends of anywhere from $50 to $1,500, according to data from the Economic Security Project.

• May 10, 2023

"Uncovering inequality" project reveals extent of systemic racism

Five reports released this week outline the ways race-based discrimination continues to pervade society.

• Mar 21, 2023

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