This Week in Money (July 31, 2026)
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
Here are a few of the stories in money you may have missed this past week.
U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday, capping a volatile July marked by swings in Big Tech earnings, AI investment concerns, and rising oil prices.
The S&P 500 gained 0.7%, the Nasdaq rose 1%, and the Dow added 277 points, giving the S&P its first weekly gain in three weeks, though the index still finished the month slightly lower.
Amazon surged 15.3% after reporting stronger-than-expected earnings and accelerating cloud growth, while Apple fell 7.4% as its revenue outlook disappointed investors amid ongoing AI-related supply constraints. Meanwhile, higher oil prices continued to fuel concerns that inflation could remain elevated.
Millennials are no longer experiencing the same housing market. With the National Association of Realtors dividing older millennials (ages 36–45) as having largely achieved homeownership, building equity and buying larger homes, while younger millennials (ages 27–35) face soaring home prices, high rents, student debt, and credit card balances that are delaying or preventing them from buying.
The article discusses how the growing divide highlights a structural shift in the U.S. housing market, with younger generations increasingly adopting living arrangements more common in the early 1900s than in recent decades.
A growing number of Gen Z entrepreneurs are turning unused clothing and accessories into income through a peer-to-peer rental app called Pickle. This app allows users to rent luxury fashion (even high-demand items like cameras) instead of buying them.
One seller grew her side hustle from a single camera listing into a business earning around $7,000 per month! As luxury prices climb and discretionary spending remains tight, clothing rentals are emerging as both a budget-friendly alternative for renters and a new income stream for lenders.
This article from NPR’s Life Kit offers insight into how to save money while paying off debt. It discusses topics like building a small emergency fund (around $500–$1,000) and a sinking fund for expected expenses like holidays, car repairs, or annual bills.
Having cash set aside for both surprises and planned costs helps you avoid relying on your credit card again and again, making your debt payoff sustainable instead of a temporary fix.
U.S. grocery prices surged after the pandemic but have been slow to decline. Economists call this phenomenon “rockets and feathers.” Although inflation has cooled, most food prices remain elevated.
This article discusses why U.S. grocery prices remain high and how shoppers are buying fewer items, switching to store brands, and flocking to discount retailers like Costco and Walmart to stretch their budgets.
This article discusses new research showing that long-term financial hardship may speed up brain aging and increase the risk of cognitive decline later in life.
Researchers found that people who experienced persistent low income or financial stress performed worse on memory and thinking tests by middle age and “brain scans revealed that people who made little money had worse brain health and more brain shrinkage as seniors aged 69 to 71.”
The findings suggest that reducing chronic financial hardship could play an important role in protecting brain health and lowering dementia risk.
This article discusses a new research tool called the Nostalgia for Eras Scale developed to help marketers identify which historical era evokes the strongest nostalgia among different audiences.
Published in the Journal of Advertising by marketing researchers Caleb Warren and Matthew Farmer, Conceptualizing and Measuring Nostalgia for Eras, found that people aren’t always most nostalgic for their youth. Many people prefer other life stages or even time periods they never experienced. By measuring these preferences, brands can create more effective advertisements, movies, and marketing campaigns that resonate with their target audiences.
Until next week - stay informed, stay intentional. ✨
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