National Debt Crosses $39.5 Trillion, Adding $510 Billion in 59 Days
The U.S. national debt closed above $39.5 trillion for the first time on July 16, 2026, finishing at $39.519 trillion after adding $510 billion in 59 days.
Shelly Warding
Shelly Warding is a rising personal finance expert who strives to help consumers improve their finances by making money easy to understand.
June CPI Falls 0.4%, the First Monthly Price Drop Since April 2020
June CPI fell 0.4%, the first monthly price decline since April 2020, cutting inflation to 3.5% and hardening the case for a Fed hold on July 28-29.
Warsh’s First Fed Report Vows Price Stability, Revives Money Supply at 4.7%
The Fed's first Monetary Policy Report under Chair Kevin Warsh vows to deliver price stability, revives a money supply section, and sets up his July testimony.
June Fed Minutes Show a Split on Rates as Some Officials Weighed a Hike
The June FOMC minutes reveal a Fed split between holding and hiking, with a few officials making a case for higher rates as inflation holds near 4 percent.
Inside an FOMC Meeting: How 19 Policymakers Set Rates Over 48 Hours
Eight meetings a year, twelve votes, one 2 p.m. statement. Here is how an FOMC meeting actually works and what the July 28-29 session could mean for your rates.
June Payrolls Add Just 57,000 as Revisions Erase 74,000, Cooling Fed Hike Bets
The U.S. added just 57,000 jobs in June as unemployment held at 4.2%. Revisions erased 74,000 from spring payrolls, cooling talk of a 2026 Fed rate hike ahead of the July FOMC.
A History of the U.S. Prime Rate: From 21.5% in 1980 to 6.75% Today
The U.S. prime rate is 6.75 percent in 2026, the same as in 1971. Here is how it peaked at 21.5 percent in 1980, fell to 3.25 percent twice, and what it means for your loans.
Long-Run Inflation Expectations Drop to 3.3% in June, Easing the Fed’s Path
Long-run inflation expectations fell to 3.3% in June while year-ahead expectations eased to 4.6%, a modest relief for the Fed's hawkish hold at 6.75% prime.
Treasury 2-Year Note Auction Stops at 4.189%, Highest Since January 2025
The U.S. Treasury sold $69 billion of two-year notes on June 23 at a 4.189% high yield, the highest stop since January 2025, with a 2.64 bid-to-cover and strong demand.
Fed Holds Rates as Dot Plot Flips to a 2026 Hike at Warsh’s First Meeting
The Fed held rates at 3.50 to 3.75 percent on June 17, 2026, but its new dot plot flipped toward a 2026 hike at Kevin Warsh's first meeting. Prime stays 6.75 percent.