The Daily Money: Why do consumers feel so dreary?
Daniel de ViseฬGood morning! Itโs Daniel de Viseฬ with your Daily Money.
Americans should be feeling pretty good about their finances and theย economy.
Stocks partlyย reboundedย from last weekโs selloff, which was largely triggered by a weak Julyย jobs report, leaving the S&P 500 index 58% above its pre-pandemic level and total household wealth nearly 40% higher. The 4.3% unemployment rate is historically low, despite last monthโs rise.
So why do consumers still feel so dreary? Paul Davidson explains.
Disney's universe expands
Disney revealed plans for new "lands" and theme-park experiences last weekend atย D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Eventย in Anaheim, California, Eve Chen reports.ย ย
D23 is the official Disney fan club, and its biennial exposition serves as a gathering of some of Disney's biggest fans. The company announces new attractions, reveals movie and television projects and generally celebrates the Disney brand. This year's gathering comes at a time when theme-park attendance is slightly down.
Read Eve's story for a full slate of theme-park announcements.
๐ฐย More stories you shouldn't missย ๐ฐ
- Trump stock falls again
- Resigning to avoid getting fired
- Disney Cruise Line doubles its fleet
- Solid state batteries for EVs?
- MotorTrend's top editor looks back
๐ฐย A great readย ๐ฐ
Finally, here's a popular story from earlier this year that you may have missed. Read it! Share it!
If you think yourย food bill is high, Medora Lee reports, look at yourย car insurance.ย
Bankrate estimates the national average cost of full-coverage car insurance in 2024ย increased by 26% to $2,543,ย up $529 from a year earlier. Thatโs six times faster thanย overall inflation,ย and more than anyย foodย item at the grocery store, includingย eggs,ย over the past three years, according to insurance comparison siteย Jerry.ย
And the rise isn't over, analysts say.ย
Where does car insurance cost the most?
About The Daily Money
Each weekday,ย The Daily Moneyย delivers the best consumer and financial news from USA TODAY, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version, and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impacts you.
Daniel de Viseฬ covers personal finance for USA Today.