This Week in Money (August 14, 2026)
Here are a few of the stories in money you may have missed this past week.
U.S. stocks edged lower after a surprisingly weak retail sales reported that showed consumers spent less last month than what was expected, raising concerns about a slowing economy. The pullback could possibly ease inflation pressures and give the Federal Reserve less of a reason to raise interest rates, which market welcomed, but ongoing inflation and rising oil prices continue to add uncertainty.
The S&P 500 fell 0.2%, while the Dow dropped 107 points (0.2%), and the Nasdaq slipped 0.3% from more recent highs.
Check out what I had t say in this Moneywise article centered on a mother whose daughter eloped and then, six months later, asked her to help pay for a celebration party! Beth, who is upset and hurt that she wasn’t included in the elopement questions whether she should financially contribute to the party.
The article discusses values, communication, and respecting an adult child’s autonomy.
Teenagers faced an unusually difficult summer job market this year, with some sending 50-80+ applications. Getting rejected or ghosted, even for volunteer positions!
This article discusses how teen hiring is projected to be at its lowest since record-keeping started in 1948, leaving young people competing for fewer entry-level opportunities that require experience or connections.
This VICE article discusses how the rising cost of going on a date is influencing the way American approach relationships. The average date now costs $189, that’s up 12.5% from just last year, and nearly half of single Americans say dating has become too expensive.
With dating burnout rising, some people are questioning whether spending money on someone who may never become a romantic partner is worth the financial risk.
This article explains how generative AI can expand rather than eliminate work. Employees use the time saved on routine tasks to take on broader responsibilities, multitask, and pursue more complex problems.
The big concern mentioned is entry-level workers. AI is taking over many of the basic tasks that once helped young employees gain experience and build their careers. Stanford research found that workers ages 22-25 in most AI-exposed occupations experienced a 16% relative decline in employment.
This article discusses how the once accessible starter home is becoming increasingly difficult for Americans to afford. A typical starter home now costs about $344,000, compared with $256,000 in 2019, while the country still has about 300,000 fewer starter-home listings than before the pandemic.
That combination of higher prices, mortgage rates, and limited inventory has left 67% of people who want to be homeowners saying that buying feels financially unrealistic, according to a recent YouGov survey.
Until next week - stay informed, stay intentional. ✨
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