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LendingTree | LendingTree ranked the 100 largest U.S metros across eight metrics to identify where small businesses appear to rely most heavily on tourism. (See the methodology section for a full description of each metric.) Taken together, these metrics provide a more complete picture of the metros where tourism serves as a fundamental driver of small business activity and the broader local economy. While the top three metros are among the nation’s best-known tourist destinations, several of the other highest-ranking metros are less obvious.

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LendingTree | A single instance of risky driving can have deadly consequences. Across the U.S., aggressive driving, inattentiveness, careless operation and other dangerous behaviors contribute to fatal crashes. Some demographic groups, vehicle models and states are associated with these crashes more frequently than others. For example, LendingTree research found that men accounted for nearly 4 in 5 fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving in 2024.

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LendingTree | The U.S. has far more vacant homes than many might expect. In fact, 14.5 million U.S. homes — roughly 1 in 10 nationwide — are empty. But vacancy doesn’t always mean availability. Some empty units are used seasonally, while others are available for rent — and fewer than 800,000 are listed for sale. The differences in vacancy type help explain why housing can feel scarce even when millions of homes sit empty.

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LendingTree | Americans are continuing to struggle financially, and the latest bankruptcy data makes that clear. Personal bankruptcy filings rose for the third straight year in 2025, reaching 549,577 filings, up 46.9% from a recent low of 374,240 in 2022.

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LendingTree | For millions of Americans, the dream of homeownership is slipping further out of reach. LendingTree research found that fewer than 4 in 10 nonhomeowner households nationwide can afford a starter home. The data highlights significant differences in starter-home affordability across the country, with some markets remaining far more accessible than others.

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LendingTree | American businesses are feeling cautiously upbeat heading into the second half of 2026, but optimism is far from universal. LendingTree research finds that while confidence in future business performance has improved over the past year, the majority of businesses still expect conditions to remain largely the same across other growth measures. Where businesses operate, how many people they employ and what industry they’re in all play a role in how rosy (or not) their outlook is.

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LendingTree | Driving under the influence — commonly known as DUI — is incredibly dangerous. Even when a crash doesn’t result in severe injuries or fatalities, a DUI conviction can carry major financial consequences that follow drivers for years. A LendingTree study found auto insurance premiums increase by an average of 74.5% across U.S. states after a DUI, raising average annual rates from $2,130 to $3,716. The financial impact varies significantly by state, with premiums in one state more than tripling after a DUI.

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LendingTree | Americans continue to face high vehicle prices, putting increasing pressure on household budgets. As a result, many car buyers appear to be scaling back their purchases and focusing on affordability when financing a vehicle. According to a LendingTree analysis of active auto loans, more than a third (36.1%) of borrowers nationwide originally financed amounts of less than $25,000. Here’s a closer look at where smaller auto loans are most common, which borrowers are most likely to take them out and what consumers should know before committing to long-term auto financing.

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LendingTree | Homeownership has long been seen as a path to lasting stability. But for single parents, that path can be riddled with obstacles — especially in certain parts of the country. According to a LendingTree study, single parents in some U.S. metros are more than twice as likely to own a home as those in the most challenging metros. Further, housing costs consume a vastly different share of single-parent incomes across the country. Find our full analysis and data below.

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LendingTree | Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. businesses have used AI in the past two weeks, and a growing share plan to lean in even further. But a widening gap between large corporations and small businesses suggests the AI revolution isn’t arriving equally. For employees across the board, however, it seems their jobs may be safe for now, as companies report using AI more to supplement what their workers do, rather than to replace them.

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