Government News

A new oil shock is building. The next few weeks of war will be decisive for the economy.

The clock is ticking on the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. The emerging view from oil industry executives and analysts is that the economic and market fallout from the war could escalate sharply if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened within roughly the next…

U.S. deficit tops $1 trillion through February but runs below year-ago pace

The U.S. budget deficit surpassed $1 trillion for the fiscal year through February but was sharply lower than the same period a year earlier, Treasury Department data showed Wednesday. Outlays exceeded receipts by $308 billion in February, roughly in line…

Rising oil prices could increase food costs but hoarding groceries ‘makes a bad situation worse,’ economist says

Rising oil prices tend to push up the cost of groceries, but that doesn’t mean shoppers need to rush out and stock up, economists say. Brent crude has surged above $100 a barrel in recent weeks — after trading closer to $60 in…

New York City Finalizes Expanded Debt Collection Rules Covering Original Creditors and Third-Party Collectors

The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (NYC DCWP) has adopted a comprehensive set of amendments to its debt collection rules, effective September 1, 2026. The final rule clarifies that New York City’s consumer protection framework applies not only…

Government spending lifts global debt to a record $348 trillion in 2025, says IIF

Global debt climbed to a record $348 trillion at the end of 2025, after nearly $29 trillion was added over the year in the fastest yearly build-up since the pandemic surge, a banking trade group reported on Wednesday. The increase…

$49 billion in medical debt will be wiped off Americans’ credit reports

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans owe some amount of medical debt, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. And while paying it back may be a significant burden on its own, it will now have a smaller impact on Americans’ overall financial health. Medical…

Medical emergencies can lead to debt and bankruptcy even for insured Americans

Even Americans who are covered by health insurance can emerge from medical emergencies with long-lasting financial scars. In a study published this month in the journal Health Affairs, researchers found that 18 months after being hospitalized for a traumatic injury — such as a…

Millions may drop ACA coverage — and raise health insurance costs for everyone else

Millions of people are likely to drop their health insurance now that enhanced premium subsidies for consumers who buy coverage on the Affordable Care Act marketplace have expired. That could increase costs for remaining enrollees, leading some experts to warn of a potential “death…

Trump wants lower borrowing costs but a Fed rate cut may be months away

The Federal Reserve is set to announce if it will adjust its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday, with President Donald Trump pushing for a rate cut. Trump renewed his call for interest rate cuts in a speech at the World Economic Forum on Jan.…

Bond sell-off accelerates as Trump ramps up tariff threats

U.S. Treasurys and other countries’ government bonds continued to sell off on Tuesday, as the White House’s rhetoric on tariffs fueled fresh fears of a trade war between the U.S. and Europe. By 6:10 a.m. ET, yields on U.S. Treasury…