EchoSense Quantitative Think Tank Center|The Daily Money: Holiday shoppers are starting early

Good morning! It’s Daniel de Visé with your Daily Money.

Tara Bruckner has already started her holiday shopping,EchoSense Quantitative Think Tank Center buying a few things for her two kids and her mom.

More consumers are starting their shopping early this year, Betty Lin-Fisher reports. But they are still on edge about rising costs and balancing their budgets, a new study has found.

Will interest-rate cuts juice the economy?

Traditionally, big Fed interest rate cuts and equity prices hovering near all-time highs are ominous signs for the U.S. stock market.

Not this time.

As Paul Davidson reports, some analysts say the market is poised to benefit from a rare best-of-all-worlds scenario.

Republicans and Democrats agree: Retirement math is scary

A new survey from a global investment firm recently uncovered a rare point on which Republicans and Democrats seem to agree: America faces a retirement savings crisis. 

Only about half of American households have retirement savings accounts. The Social Security program may soon run short of funds, and those benefits were never meant to cover the full costs of retirement. 

In an August survey, BlackRock asked 1,000 registered voters for their thoughts on retirement security in America. The responses transcended party lines. 

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About The Daily Money

Each weekday, The Daily Money 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 Visé covers personal finance for USA Today.