On The Money: Why more Americans are worried about the economy
How are you feeling financially these days?
According to new research from Reuters, more Americans are worried about the U.S. economy, prompted by concerns about tariffs.
The share of Americans who think the economy is on the wrong track rose to 53% in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll from 43% in the January 24-26 poll.
And another survey shows that one in five Americans say they are purchasing more items than usual, reflecting heightened anxiety over potential price hikes and economic uncertainty. (Just writing this sentence takes me back to the early days of the COVID pandemic in March 2020, when supermarket shelves were bare.)
Tariffs tend to spark inflation because they raise the cost of imported goods. As a result, businesses either absorb the higher expenses or pass them on to consumers through price increases.
What are your thoughts about the economy and tariffs? Let me know at
And if you are stocking up on anything in particular right now – such as maple syrup from Canada or tequila from Mexico – I want to hear about it.
Why are eggs so expensive?
If you are scrambling to find a carton of eggs these days, you are not alone.
At my local Trader Joe's in Brooklyn, you could not find eggs last week.
Shoppers across the U.S. face record egg prices, opens new tab, as well as purchasing limits, opens new tab, due to a tightening supply chain of eggs exacerbated by the ongoing avian influenza outbreak, which resulted in the death of millions of chickens across the country.
Since the start of the bird flu outbreak in February 2022, more than 157 million, opens new tab birds in commercial and backyard flocks have been impacted by the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, as well as the less common H5N9. Millions of birds have been culled, opens new tab, leading to a shortage of eggs and driving up prices.
The latest monthly consumer price index showed that the average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in U.S. cities reached $4.95 in January, opens new tab, higher than the previous record of $4.82 set two years ago. At another grocery store closer to my home, a carton of organic eggs costs more than $14.
The average price of a dozen large eggs increased by more than 50% in the past year nationwide. There were even bigger price hikes in some metropolitan areas.
The rising cost of feed, particularly corn and soybeans, is also pushing egg prices higher. A severe drought in the Midwest, coupled with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, is leading to a global shortage of these commodities.
The cost of corn jumped by 20% in the past year, while soybean prices rose by more than 30%.
Earlier this month, thieves stole about 100,000 organic eggs from a wholesaler's warehouse in Pennsylvania, a haul worth more than $40,000 retail amid a national shortage that has caused prices to surge.
This Sunday I plan to head over to the local farmer's market early to buy a carton of eggs. I imagine the price will be high but at least they will be farm fresh.
What's your experience purchasing eggs lately? Write to me at
What I'm reading and watching
Like what you're reading? Subscribe to On the Money here.
Video of the week
After two years of underperformance, international equity funds started 2025 with strength. Todd Rosenbluth from VettaFi says investors are feeling more comfortable with prospects outside of America despite the threat of tariffs. Watch his interview here.
How to live with a roommate
Finding a roommate to offset housing costs seems like a logical move at a young age. But it turns out more older Americans are looking for roommates, too.
Some 6% of all live-in landlords who use the roommate-matching service SpareRoom, opens new tab are ages 65 and up and another 14% are ages 55-64, but these two age groups are the fastest-growing, according to Matt Hutchinson, director at, opens new tab SpareRoom.
I asked Hutchinson some questions about finding a roommate at a mature age.
This interview is edited and condensed.
Q. How is living with a roommate different as you age? What tips do you have for making it work?
A. This is certainly not true for everyone, but it can be the case that – as we get older – we grow more accustomed to our own way of living. It can be a daunting prospect to shake things up and share our living space with friends or strangers.
It's important to remember there's no such thing as the perfect roommate, just your perfect roommate. Some people want to socialize together, some want a purely financial relationship and separate lives and most want something in the middle!
Talking about that up front is always best. Similar expectations of what living together will be like are the simplest way to avoid issues once you actually do live together.
We asked a bunch of homeowners who'd rented out a room for their advice on how to find the best roommate. Here is their list of
It's interesting what people pick up on: Some judge potential roommates based on whether a person offers to take their shoes off at the front door or how well they get along with the dog.
Q. What is the best way to handle chores, bills, etc.?
A. Draw up a written agreement. In addition to rent, security deposit and insurance, it should also include house rules, opens new tab around things like guests, pets, noise, cleaning, smoking and use of shared spaces and facilities.
Here are our tips on approaching cleaning with roommates, opens new tab.
Similarly, bills can be a key sticking point. The same advice applies here: talk early and openly. Some homeowners will include bills with the rent, which can help their roommate budget better, others want to split the bills equally as they come in.
Here is our guide to talking to roommates about money, opens new tab.
A$K Lauren
Are you wondering if you should rent out your home? Do you need a life insurance policy? Send your personal finance questions to
Get a look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets with the Morning Bid U.S. newsletter. Sign up here.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scotsman
6 hours ago
- Scotsman
Edinburgh LGBT+ friendly shop, cafe and art space Kafe Kweer announces its closure
The owners of Edinburgh LGBT+ friendly shop, cafe and art space Kafe Kweer have announces its closure. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Viewforth venue opened in 2020 just as the earth-shattering Covid pandemic hit the world, forcing businesses to close their door and people to stay at home. Owners of the Gilmore Place cafe at St Peter's Buildings, Oskar and Zak, made the announcement on social media, with Kafe Kweer set to close on September 1 when the current lease ends. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They said: 'Our lease ends on 1st September, and with this we have made the tough decision to shut our doors after five incredible years on that date. We do this entirely on our own terms, recognising a coinciding shift in our personal lives, creative goals, rising costs, and beyond. 'Kafe Kweer started as a manic project at the height of lockdown, after we saw a Facebook post advertising a small shop looking for new management. Everything was so uncertain at this time that we decided to just GO for it, with zero expectations and lots of risk. 'We thought we'd be lucky to last a year. And here we are exactly five years later, despite Covid, Brexit, cost of living crises, and being located in a quiet part of town.' Kafe Kweer in Edinburgh's Viewforth area will close for good on September 1. | Google Maps Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The pair vowed to carry on providing a safe space for LGBT+ people to enjoy themselves. They said: 'Despite closing our physical space, we aim to keep using our platform and network to host some of our social events in other spaces, helping queer people find connection amidst this hostile world, and spreading the news about other local queer events/resources. 'The ethos and mission of what Kafe Kweer is about is more than one single shop could ever do, and we plan on continuing to be a hub for Edinburgh's queer community in one way or the other! 'We close our doors in September with our heads held high and our hearts very full with the love you've given us over the years. We know this'll be sad news for many, and it's a sad decision for us, but we believe in doing what we've always done: adapting and evolving.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Adding: 'We'd ask that you all come see us this August for our last month open. We'll be selling a lot of our stock at bargain prices , hosting Fringe shows every afternoon, and probably crying a lot. This is only the beginning. Queer joy forever.' Customers were quick to send their love and thanks to the cafe owners on social media in response to the closure announcement. Polly Edwards said: 'You have done spectacularly, incredibly well and been such a massive life-changing force for good for so many folks here, me included. Five years!! That's amazing! Hold those heads even higher cause you're a bunch of heroes in my book.' Cooper King added: 'We love you so much!! This space was one of the first in the community I came to after moving to this country, and gave me essential room to meet the queer community and grow as my own person. thank you for hosting us for poetry evenings, Lavender Menace meetings, and social gatherings. So sad to hear about your closing but I'm thankful to have had the time with Kafe Kweer!' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And, Fin Buchan said: 'So sad to see you guys closing. I've visited quite a lot of times over the years and remember coming in with my partner at the time just after you opened back in 2020. 'I would only have been 17 then, and seeing a space like this changed everything for me. It made me realise community was still out there. Thank you for all you've done for everyone who's come through your doors.'


Metro
7 hours ago
- Metro
I earn £232,000 as a freelance writer — my salary feels surreal
Welcome back to Me and My Money, Metro's series taking a look at the UK's spending and saving habits. This week we meet Lizzie Davey, 34, a freelance tech and e-commerce writer from Brighton who has built a successful career that gives her an annual salary of more than £200,000. Lizzie saves a lot of her income and hopes to retire by her early 50s. Here, she tells us how she manages her income and savings. I've been freelancing for 12 years, starting aged 23 as a travel writer because I wanted to see more of the world without being tied down. I'd maxed out my annual leave at my job and wanted the freedom to travel as much as I wanted. I'm not sure I'd recommend that to everyone but it worked for me at the time. As time went on I slowly evolved into marketing content because I'd originally worked in marketing before going freelance and that's where my skillset was. When the Covid pandemic hit, e-commerce (online shopping) took off and I landed one e-commerce client. The e-commerce clients I work with are not actual retail brands – they're the companies that create software for those retail brands to use. Now the majority of my clients are in the e-commerce software space, which is obviously still thriving. I write customer-facing content, such as blog posts, case studies, ebooks and also internal communications for companies such as technical documents. I usually work with between seven and 10 clients a month on an ongoing basis. Mostly this involves writing a set amount of pieces or content for a client each month. It's really helpful for predicting my income for the year and giving me consistent work. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Annual income: £232,000 (2024) Income taken from the business after pension, expenses including co-working rent, tax and investments: £73,000 Main monthly outgoings: Amazon Prime: £6.60 (£79 a year) Mortgage: £783.58 Home insurance: £20.72 Council tax: £168 Phone and internet: £92 Energy: £50-£100 Income protection: £26.24 Petrol: £50 Netflix: £17.99 Car insurance: £200 a year It has taken me a while to get to this point. When I started I'd work 14-hour days and charge £25 per piece. Now my minimum rate per article is £850, and I won't do anything under £500 unless it's for a long-standing client looking for a small extra job. Earning this much does feel a bit surreal as it's an income I never ever imagined would be possible doing what I do. There's a trope that writers are poor and self-employed people don't earn much, so I was happy just to have the freedom to work my own hours. The money was a bonus as I've never been particularly money driven. I definitely don't live a luxury lifestyle, although I do eat out a lot more than most and travel more than my peers. I still have a budget though and set aside £500 a month for eating out, lunches, and doing fun things. I drive a 14-year-old Nissan Micra that has definitely seen better days, so I think that says it all! I think the thing to remember here is that while the business earns ~£240,000 a year, I don't pay myself that much. I pay myself about £75,000 a year, so I don't technically have a quarter of a million to spend on myself! The leftover money in the business goes into investments and will be saved for a time when I might want to take a year or so off. I'm definitely a saver when it comes to my personal money. I'm not a big spender AT ALL. I used to have a one-bedroom flat in central Brighton that I bought in 2021 but I wanted more space, so I updgraded to a 3-bedroom house less than three years later. I bought a three bedroom 1930s renovation project in March last year in the suburbs of Brighton. It's been slow progress because I drained the majority of my savings to buy the house but I'm about halfway through. I've had the kitchen and bathroom done and the garden is next on the list. The majority of my personal money is going on the house renovations at the moment, so I don't have a ton of savings, but I do go on holiday 4-6 times a year. These aren't extravagant holidays by any means (I stayed in a hostel on the last one!), and I tend to travel cheap and stay cheap. My main aim when travelling is eating and exploring, so I'm not really a luxury traveller. But my salary also means I have the freedom to say yes to things I want to do and I have quite a lot of hobbies I do throughout the week that I probably wouldn't be able to afford otherwise. I still give myself a budget each month though, and try to stick with that. My plan is to retire early – before the age of 55 – and I've got a financial adviser to help me with that and to keep my savings and investments on track. I pay £1,000 a month into a pension and invest in the stock market through my company in other accounts that I can access before the pension. I work from a co-working space in central Brighton, which I pay £255 a month for, through my company. I really like the social aspect of working alongside other people, and with people who are often self-employed and get it. It was really useful speaking to other freelancers who told me my initial rates were too low and who showed me how I should be structuring contracts and sending proposals. I start work early. I walk to my co-working space, which takes about 40 minutes, and am there for 8am. Between 8am and 11am is solid writing time. I put my phone on aeroplane mode, put my headphones on and listen to any music without lyrics while I concentrate on writing. Between 11am and 2pm, I'll take calls and have lunch. Sometimes I'll meet another freelancer for lunch or go to an event. Between 2pm and 4pm I'll do emails, edits, admin or write an outline for the next day's article. I'm usually done by 4pm except on Mondays where it's more like 5pm or 6pm. I normally take Fridays off, except if I do work for my own website or social media. It's really important to put yourself out there on social media and to build your own personal brand. More Trending I send a free weekly email every Friday aimed at freelancers, where I discuss my work and rates. I'll do a gym class in the afternoon, meet up with friends or go to the beach if it's nice. My advice for people starting now is to have a specific skill that you're good at, that people want and need. For me, that's marketing writing. But there are many writers out there who are trying to make it. And obviously AI has also become a new competitor, but clients still want the human side of content. Clients come to me because of my industry expertise. I've worked so prolifically in the e-commerce space that I understand all the problems their customers have. These companies want to drive sales and drive conversions, which I help with, but also I save them time from having to write their own content. I'm reliable, clients can count on me and they know they're going to get something good delivered on time. They are free to focus on other areas of the business to generate more revenue. View More » At some point I'll probably pivot into more strategy and consultancy and less writing but for now I'm happy. MORE: The average amount Brits have in savings, according to their age MORE: Living by the 50/40/10 rule got me out of £40,000 debt twice MORE: I'm 16 – my boss's question about my sex life disgusted me Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.


Spectator
12 hours ago
- Spectator
Britain needs to embrace crypto with its own Genius Act
In proposing to sell the government's £5 billion hoard of Bitcoin – accumulated from confiscating the proceeds of crime – Rachel Reeves has earned some keen supporters. But the Chancellor should resist the temptation. It wouldn't be an error quite on the scale of Gordon Brown's sale of half of Britain's gold reserves in 1999 – that occurred right at the bottom of a bear market in gold, while Bitcoin in recent weeks has been trading at record highs. Nevertheless, Reeves would be missing out on the opportunity to build a Strategic Crypto Reserve which could turn out to be many times more valuable in the future. By backing cryptocurrencies rather than disposing of them, she could help the City of London capture an important market and recover some of its long-lost pre-eminence in financial transactions. While Reeves is contemplating cashing in her Bitcoin, the US is going in a very different direction. This month Congress established the GENIUS Act (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stable coins), which will regulate and encourage the use of 'stable coins' – cryptocurrencies backed by liquid assets such as dollars or short-dated Treasuries. The act will address many concerns about criminals' use of cryptocurrencies by incorporating strong consumer and anti-money laundering provisions. It will mandate the reporting of any suspicious activity involving cryptocurrencies, and ensure that they are backed by low-risk investments such as the dollar, or government bonds. There is an expectation, too, that President Trump will sign an executive order to allow the pension plans of millions of Americans to hold cryptocurrencies. The US approach towards cryptocurrencies is both liberating and reassuring for consumers. The Genius Act is a recognition of the massively-expanding crypto market – worth $5.7 billion globally last year – and an effort rightfully to bring it inside the regulatory tent for the first time, rather than to leave it at the mercy of private operators. It introduces safeguards which might prevent a future scandal along the lines of the discredited scheme operated by the now-jailed Sam Bankman-Fried. It introduces supervision to ensure that those trading stable coins retain adequate liquidity, and introduces a proper framework for dealing the currencies. Many people remain deeply suspicious about cryptocurrencies and will balk at the idea of governments having anything to do with them. Yet they are not going to go away. There is a generational divide in attitudes towards cryptocurrencies. While many older people continue to see them as a scam, many younger people have a similar attitude towards fiat currencies – paper money issued by governments and central banks which is not backed by gold or any other valuable commodity. It is time to recognise that fiat currencies are not the only ones that can be used in commercial transactions, and there is a good reason to explore alternatives. Blockchain, the technology behind cryptocurrencies, is increasing the speed at which transactions can take place. As for the argument that Bitcoin is not a proper currency because of the volatility in price, this needs to be absorbed as a warning to investors. It should not be used as a reason to prevent holding it, say, in a pension fund. Many corporations, too, once had reservations about cryptocurrencies yet have since been converted. Those who decline to be involved face losing out. Look at analytics company MicroStrategy, whose shares have increased fourfold over the past year as it has become the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin. The choice for our own government lies between taking action to incorporate cryptocurrencies into mainstream finance – or to watch as the US and others take the initiative. We need to be part of cryptocurrency regulation just as we were part of the post World War II Bretton Woods agreement, which established a regime for creating exchange rate stability, and which also established the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the dollar peg. Stable coins, in fact, are becoming a new dollar peg. One of the consequences of the GENIUS Act, if it is not followed by a similar move here, will be to boost the value of the dollar. In her Mansion House speech, Rachel Reeves rightfully blamed excessive regulation for stifling growth. Yet as well as restricting and encumbering, well-designed regulations can free up markets and encourage growth. Reeves should be looking into a UK equivalent of the GENIUS Act. But in the meantime she should signal her intentions towards cryptocurrencies by retaining the government's £5.4 billion of Bitcoin and have it managed by a City firm. If Reeves will not do this, it is very fertile ground for the Conservatives. Kemi Badenoch will be watching the GENIUS Act with great interest. Fail to embrace cryptocurrency now, and Britain will once again have missed out on the chance to take a lead in an emerging industry. It is critical that the City of London should not lag behind major structural changes in the world or finance. Creating a proper platform in London for trading cryptocurrencies could be the beginning of the City's revival.