A new Urban Institute report finds that nearly 22% of middle-income renters missed a full, on-time rent payment at least once in 2025, up from about 14% in 2024. Middle-income was defined as $31,300-$62,600 for single renters and $53,300-$106,600 for a family of three, income levels that should theoretically cover the average U.S. rent of $1,771. The report notes middle-income households saw the sharpest increase in rent-related financial hardship of any income group.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-09-24
A Pew Research survey of over 42,000 people across 37 countries, conducted between February and May, found that a majority in 34 nations believe AI will destroy more jobs than it creates over the next two decades. Concern is highest in wealthier nations such as Australia, South Korea, and the US, and most respondents also expect AI to widen the gap between rich and poor.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-17
A study finds that children who received school meal programs went on to earn more income as adults compared with peers who lacked such access. Researchers tracked long-term economic outcomes to establish this connection between childhood nutrition support and later earnings.
nature.com
· 2026-09-17
A newly launched interactive analysis built on BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey data from 2000-2024 finds that the bottom 50% of U.S. households by income spend more than they earn once essential costs are covered. The tool reproduces official quintile-level averages for income, taxes and spending exactly, while offering adjustable what-if scenarios for finer breakdowns like deciles, childcare costs, and wealth taxes that aren't directly reported by BLS. It also flags several data inconsistencies, such as a 2013 methodology shift in tax estimation and missing 2024 after-tax figures, and includes inflation-adjusted projections for 2025-2026 since BLS hasn't yet published that data.
whats-left-over.pages.dev
· 2026-09-15
A Nature commentary co-authored by economist Joseph Stiglitz and UNAIDS chief Winnie Byanyima proposes creating an International Panel on Inequality (IPI), a roughly 40-member expert body that would synthesize research on income and wealth gaps for policymakers. The proposal already has support from the UN, the African Union, and more than 700 scholars, with South Africa, Brazil, Spain and Norway backing it. The commentary cites data showing the richest 1% captured 41% of new wealth created between 2000 and 2024, versus just 1% for the poorest half of the world.
nature.com
· 2026-09-15
A client invested $30,000 into a fully managed Amazon storefront run by Elite Automation, which handles sourcing, fulfillment, pricing and account operations while she retains ownership. Four years later, the store is generating over $165,000 in monthly sales with roughly $25,000 in net profit and a 22% ROI, a pattern that has held steady for months rather than being a one-time spike.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-09-10
A group of researchers, including members of the G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality convened by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, has proposed creating an International Panel on Inequality (IPI). The body would function like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, systematically reviewing evidence on the scale, causes and effects of inequality and assessing which policies actually reduce it. A founding committee has already begun developing the proposal after it was presented to G20 governments earlier this year.
nature.com
· 2026-09-09
Andrea Palacio and her husband bought a South Florida landscaping company for $470,000, expecting a low-effort, cash-flowing 'boring business' to generate passive income. Almost immediately after closing, the seller disappeared, 10 of the company's 12 employees quit, and monthly revenue fell from $70,000 to $40,000. The couple then had to scramble to stabilize operations and rebuild the business from near-collapse.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-05
A former commercial nuclear power operator who rose from Reactor Operator to Senior Reactor Operator and into management left his 19-year utility career at 38, relocating from Michigan to Washington, D.C. to chase 'unlimited income potential' through sales and business ownership. He found that the skills that made him excel as an employee inside a large organization did not translate into success running his own venture.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-09-04
A new Pew Research analysis finds that 60% of Americans self-identify as working class, up from 54% last year. Notably, half of adults earning above $155,600—Pew's upper-income threshold—also embrace the label, alongside 67% of middle-income earners and 77% of blue-collar workers.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-09-03
A financial roundup highlights five side-hustle categories that can scale into substantial income streams, potentially rivaling or exceeding a full-time salary. The report notes these ventures have room to grow beyond part-time work into standalone businesses.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-08-31
An Entrepreneur op-ed argues that small business owners typically leave tax planning until December or April, missing chances to adjust course while the fiscal year is still open. It outlines four mid-year moves—setting owner salary deliberately, reviewing entity structure, coordinating retirement contributions, and using strategies like the qualified business income deduction and the Augusta Rule—that can meaningfully cut a founder's tax bill if done properly and documented.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-08-27
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