Shelly Warding

Shelly Warding is a rising personal finance expert who strives to help consumers improve their finances by making money easy to understand.

Joined: November 14, 2023
Articles: 47

Budget, Personal Loans

National Debt Hits Record $40.3 Trillion, Up $133 Billion in Six Days

The neoclassical south facade of the United States Treasury Building in Washington photographed from the base of its granite steps at golden hour, with a row of tall fluted columns casting long shadows under a breaking storm sky.

Total public debt outstanding reached $40,305,316,210,829.72 on October 8, 2026, the first reading ever above $40.3 trillion and up $133.49 billion in six business days.

Shelly Warding
October 10, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

Federal Debt Grew $2.46 Trillion in Fiscal 2026 to End at $40.1 Trillion

The neoclassical stone columns of the United States Treasury Department building in Washington D.C. photographed at dawn in warm low-angle autumn sunlight, with bare tree branches framing the left edge and an overcast sky breaking into light above the roofline.

The federal debt grew $2.46 trillion in fiscal 2026 and closed at $40.097 trillion, the first fiscal year to end above $40 trillion. Here is what it costs.

Shelly Warding
October 1, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

Interest on the Debt Hits $1.27 Trillion With One Month Left in Fiscal 2026

Wide low angle view of the neoclassical United States Treasury building facade at sunrise with tall fluted stone columns lit by warm golden light and long deep shadows falling across the wide granite steps beneath a pale clear autumn sky

Federal interest expense reached $1,267.8 billion in eleven months of fiscal 2026, topping all of fiscal 2025, as the average rate on Treasury debt hit a 17-year high.

Shelly Warding
September 28, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

CBO Projects Debt at 222% of GDP by 2056 in Higher Rate Scenario

The United States Capitol dome and its west front reflected in the still water of the Capitol Reflecting Pool under a pale overcast sky at dusk.

The Congressional Budget Office said federal debt held by the public would reach 222 percent of GDP in 2056 if interest rates run one percentage point above its baseline, against 175 percent in the baseline itself.

Shelly Warding
September 25, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

Treasury 20-Year Auction Clears 5.42% as 10-Year Closes at 5.00%

The columned neoclassical facade of the United States Treasury Department building in Washington DC photographed at golden hour under an overcast autumn sky

Treasury's 20-year bond auction cleared at a record 5.420 percent with the weakest indirect share since February, and the 10-year closed at 5.00 percent.

Shelly Warding
September 16, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

Treasury Yield Curve Flattens to 33 Basis Points as the Fed Meets Tuesday

Dawn light rakes across the limestone columns of the United States Treasury building in Washington, casting long shadows down the front steps under a clear early autumn sky.

The 2-year to 10-year Treasury spread narrowed to 33 basis points on September 11, its tightest since July 1, as the front end repriced before the September 15 and 16 FOMC meeting.

Shelly Warding
September 13, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

Treasury 10-Year Note Stops at 4.834%, Highest Auction Yield Since 2007

The neoclassical limestone west facade of the United States Treasury building in Washington DC photographed from a low angle in early morning light, tall fluted Ionic columns above wide stone steps, a black wrought iron fence in the foreground and clear blue sky overhead.

Treasury sold $39 billion of 10-year notes at a 4.834 percent high yield on September 9, 2026, the highest 10-year auction stop since August 2007, on a 2.71 bid-to-cover ratio.

Shelly Warding
September 10, 2026

Budget, Credit Cards

Prime Rate Hits 270 Days at 6.75% as Traders Price a September Fed Hike

The neoclassical limestone facade of the Federal Reserve Marriner S. Eccles Building in Washington photographed at early morning with tall fluted columns deep window recesses raking dawn light across the stone long cool shadows falling on the empty plaza a bare flagpole and low trimmed hedges in the foreground beneath a pale overcast sky

The U.S. prime rate has held at 6.75% for 270 days. After August payrolls rose 162,000, futures price roughly even odds of a hike on September 16.

Shelly Warding
September 7, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

Waller Ties His September Vote to August CPI as Three-Month Core Slows to 3.05%

Late afternoon sunlight rakes across the limestone columns and stepped entrance of the Federal Reserve Board headquarters in Washington, with autumn leaves scattered on the lawn and a bare flagpole rising in front of the portico.

Fed Governor Christopher Waller said he would back a September hold if August inflation keeps cooling, citing three-month core inflation of 3.05 percent, and a hike if it does not.

Shelly Warding
September 4, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

Treasury Six-Month Bill Draws 3.885% as Dealers Absorb 40% of the Auction

Sunlit limestone columns along the front facade of the United States Treasury building in Washington DC under a clear deep blue afternoon sky

Treasury's August 31 six-month bill cleared at 3.885 percent with primary dealers absorbing 40 percent of the sale, their largest share since December 2025.

Shelly Warding
September 1, 2026