PERSONAL LOANS/DEBT
LendingTree | Pay is climbing across the private sector, but nowhere faster than in the information sector. Data shows average weekly wages in this sector rose 9.4% between 2024 and 2025 — and half of the 10 subsectors with the biggest pay gains were in the information sector.
PERSONAL LOANS/DEBT
LendingTree | Americans spent an average of $323 on lottery tickets in 2024, up 4.5% in two years, according to a LendingTree analysis of government data. Nationally, lottery spending reached $110.4 billion in 2024. Massachusetts residents were the biggest per-capita spenders on lottery tickets by far, spending an average of $904. That was 43.5% more than the average in the next highest state. However, despite the overall rise in lottery spending, states were far more likely to see per-capita lottery spending decline than increase in 2024.
PERSONAL LOANS/DEBT
LendingTree | Fall officially means one thing for retailers: pumpkin everything. This year, shoppers are showing up for it, even though pumpkin-flavored products carry a noticeably higher price tag than their standard counterparts. Our research shows that while enthusiasm for pumpkin spice is nearing a five-year high, the premiums attached to it are also rising. Yet many consumers say they’re not willing to pay whatever it costs to get their seasonal fix.
PERSONAL LOANS/DEBT
LendingTree | The Bank of Mom and Dad doesn’t close when kids turn 18. This LendingTree survey finds that most parents of adult children have opened their wallets at some point — and for a large share, that support is a regular, ongoing arrangement rather than a one-time favor. Here’s what parents and their adult children say about who’s paying for what, how much it’s costing and how everyone involved feels about it.
PERSONAL LOANS/DEBT
LendingTree | Credit cards and loans can be valuable financial tools when used wisely, but debt can pile up fast — and where you live and how old you are can indicate how heavy that burden is. Researchers analyzed roughly 400,000 anonymized credit reports from LendingTree users in the 50 largest U.S. metros to see how non-mortgage debt breaks down by generation and where balances run the highest. Here’s what we found.
PERSONAL LOANS/DEBT
LendingTree | Your credit score is one of the biggest factors in determining how much you’ll pay to borrow money — and improving it could lead to significant savings. According to a LendingTree study, borrowers who move their credit score from the fair range to very good could save $42,950 in total interest over the life of their debt. Even smaller improvements could still meaningfully reduce monthly bills.
PERSONAL LOANS/DEBT
LendingTree | Over the next two decades, the transfer of generational wealth is set to accelerate in the U.S. This LendingTree study estimates that homeowners ages 65 and older could pass down roughly $17.2 trillion between 2026 and 2045 — an average of $859 billion a year. That wealth transfer may not be so straightforward, though. A separate survey of 1,585 U.S. consumers indicates that expectations don’t always match reality, and many families still haven’t had necessary conversations about inheritance.
PERSONAL LOANS/DEBT
LendingTree | Football is the undisputed king of American sports, but even it isn’t immune to the effects of inflation. A LendingTree survey found that fewer Americans plan to spend on football-related items and experiences this fall, and about half of those who do expect to spend may take on debt to cover those costs. The economy can be a big reason why.
PERSONAL LOANS/DEBT
LendingTree | Borrowers who skip comparing loan offers could miss out on significant savings. LendingTree data shows the difference between the highest- and lowest-cost offers when rate shopping could translate to nearly $2,500 in savings over three years. Across all credit profiles, consumers who compare personal loan offers could reduce their monthly payments by an average of $50.
PERSONAL LOANS/DEBT
LendingTree | Where do America’s most financially responsible people live? Many are in the Midwest. LendingTree research ranked the nation’s largest 100 metros based on a combination of housing cost, debt burden and credit usage indicators. The results show that half of the top 10 metros are in the Midwest. Meanwhile, the bottom of the rankings is dominated by two states: Texas and California. Together, they account for seven of the bottom 10 metros.