This Week in Money (September 18, 2026)
Here are a few of the stories in money you may have missed this past week.
U.S. stocks closed the week mixed, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.2%, the Nasdaq rising 0.4%, and the Dow falling 0.2%. The S&P 500 posted its second consecutive weekly loss as higher oil prices and elevated bond yields continued to weigh on markets.
Inflation remains above 3%.
The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark short-term interest rate by a quarter percentage point, raising the target range for the federal funds rate to 3.75%-4%.
The impacts of this for consumers are discussed in this article, drawing attention to why who you are significantly matters. Borrower? Lender? Financially secure? Financially stretched consumers with higher amounts of rate debt and no savings are likely to be the most negatively impacted.
It also offers a few steps that consumers can take now to improve their financial position.
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, released in September 2020, offers many lessons on wealth, greed, happiness, and how doing well with your personal finances is connected more to our thoughts and emotions driving our behavior than our financial knowledge.
This article lays out five of those lessons including keeping up appearances and matching others’ lifestyles, and why practicing patience matters as an investment strategy.
“Commercial health care costs are projected to rise 9% in 2027, the highest trend in nearly two decades.”
Employers including Disney, Bloomberg, Starbucks, Deloitte, and the City of Dallas plan to cut or change health benefits for 2027, placing the financial burden on their employees. This article goes into detail about what is changing at each of these companies, how companies can bypass traditional insurance, and what can be done differently to support employees.
The “couch economy” describes how consumers are shopping on their phones, laptops, and apps rather than going into physical store locations. U.S. online spending has risen from 48% in 2019 to 58% in 2026. The rise includes at home entertainment streaming services and food-delivery services. Read the full article for all the consumer spending details.
With a potential 22% reduction in Social Security benefits if Congress fails to address the funding shortfall, planning for retirement can be psychologically difficult. This can be especially true for people who view Social Security as a main source of their future income.
This article names these 10 states whose residents could experience significant challenges if the projected benefit cut occurs, with these states experiencing the largest total benefit losses as a share of gross domestic product (GDP):
1. West Virginia
2. Mississippi
3. Vermont
4. South Carolina
5. Maine
6. Michigan
7. Montana
8. Arkansas
9. Alabama
10. Idaho
The Social Security retirement trust fund is currently projected to be depleted in 2032.
This article explores the community and culture that has developed around Costco. It highlights how the retailer has created something beyond a traditional shopping experience where shopping can fulfill social and emotional needs in addition to practical ones.
Some people need to know that physical money is available to them. This article suggests several psychological explanations for this including mental accounting, loss aversion, the “pain of paying,” and feelings of perceived control.
Your payment method (cash or digital) can even influence your spending behavior. According to the article, research suggests that, on average, consumers often spend slightly more with cashless payment methods than with cash, although this varies considerably across different circumstances.
Until next week - stay informed, stay intentional. ✨
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