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Average U.S. Income: How Much Do Americans Earn?
What's the median U.S. income by state, gender, age, family size, and more? Read on to find out what the research says.
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Major media outlets – from Harvard Business Review to The New York Times – regularly cite our personal finance research and data insights.
The average credit score in America is 714. Find out how yours compares in this full report by Motley Fool Money.
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USA Today:
The road to 850: Five pathways to a perfect credit score
Just 1.5% of American consumers have perfect FICO credit scores, according to Motley Fool Money.
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Discover wasteful spending trends -- and how high-yield savings accounts and budgeting tools can help curb impulse buying and grow your cash.
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CNBC:
Americans say these are the top 5 things they waste the most money on
85% of Americans say they will at least occasionally spend money on an unnecessary expense, according to a survey of 2,000 Americans released by Motley Fool Money.
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Americans shelled out $104.7 billion on lottery tickets in 2024, a record high. But is playing the lottery a good investment?
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CBS News:
Powerball jackpot grows to $643 million after no winners in Monday drawing
The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 292 million, according to Powerball. But these chances don't stop Americans from spending roughly $103 billion on lottery tickets annually, according to data from Motley Fool Money.
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Jack Caporal
Jack Caporal is the Research Director for The Motley Fool and Motley Fool Money and has worked full-time for the company since 2021. Jack leads efforts to identify and analyze trends shaping investing and personal financial decisions across the United States. His research has appeared in thousands of media outlets including Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and CNBC, and has been cited in congressional testimony. He previously covered business and economic trends as a reporter and policy analyst in Washington, D.C. He serves as Chair of the Trade Policy Committee at the World Trade Center in Denver, Colorado. He holds a B.A. degree in International Relations with a concentration in International Economics from Michigan State University.
Joel O'Leary
Joel O’Leary is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, covering credit cards, bank accounts, investing, mortgages, and other personal finance topics. Joel has been writing about personal finance since 2018, previously leading editorial content for the How To Money podcast and serving as a resident writer at Budgets Are Sexy. He bought his first rental property at age 18, funding the down payment with savings from his high school job at McDonald’s -- a testament to his lifelong passion for smart money decisions. His work aims to make personal finance accessible and actionable for everyday readers. When he’s not writing, Joel enjoys surfing and spending time with his family.
Recent Research
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Aug. 28, 2026 | By
Jack Caporal
The Largest Brokerage Firms in 2026
Fidelity has total client assets totaling $18 trillion, making it the largest brokerage firm by that measure. Learn more here.
Aug. 27, 2026 | By
Jack Caporal
Average Grocery Cost Per Month: Americans Spend $677, Up 31% Since 2019
Americans' average grocery cost per month is $677, up 31% since 2019. See costs by household size, state, and food category.
Aug. 24, 2026 | By
Jack Caporal
The Average Checking Account Interest Rate in August 2026
The national average interest rate on checking accounts is 0.07% as of August 2026, per the FDIC.
Aug. 20, 2026 | By
Jack Caporal
Buy Now, Pay Later Statistics
Buy now, pay later services can help consumers avoid credit card interest, but they also present financial risks. Find out how consumers use BNPL services.
Aug. 17, 2026 | By
Jack Caporal
Average Savings Account Interest Rate in August 2026
The national average savings account interest rate is 0.38% as of August 2026, per FDIC data. See how rates have changed and where to find a better rate.
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Alicia Aldrich has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.