Recent Research

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Updated by Jack Caporal

The Average Checking Account Balance

How much money do Americans have in their checking accounts? Read on to see the average checking account balance by age, income bracket, and more.
Successful couple making a toast with champagne glasses while having canapes aboard a private airplane
Updated by Jack Caporal

Study: How Rich Americans Use Credit Cards

How do high-net-worth Americans use credit cards? Which types and brands do they prefer? Do they have good habits? We surveyed 1,500 of them to find out.
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Updated by Jack Caporal

Average Closing Costs on a House

What are the average closing costs on a house? What's included in closing costs? We have state-by-state figures to give you the best data.
Man with tool belt climbing ladder to roof.
March 3, 2025 by Jack Caporal

Survey: The Hidden Costs of Homeownership

Over a third of homeowners run into unexpected costs after closing on their new home -- find out what they are and how much they cost.
A woman holding her hands up in a square and looking through them at a house on a sunny street.
Feb. 25, 2025 by Jack Caporal

Survey: The Most Common Home-Buying Regrets

A quarter of home owners surveyed by Motley Fool Money have some type of buyer's remorse. Read on to find out the most common home-buying regrets.
A small wooden house with couple blurred in background.
Updated by Jack Caporal

What Is the Average Down Payment on a House?

The median down payment on a house is 15% of its value. Want more down payment statistics? We have them right here.
Parents giving credit card to excited teen daughter.
Updated by Jack Caporal

Study: Generational Credit Card Habits

The Motley Fool Motley Fool Money surveyed 2,000 Americans on their credit card habits and found some generational differences. Find out if they apply to you.
A young woman shops on her laptop holding her credit card while her cat lounges in the background
Updated by Jack Caporal

Study: COVID-19 Led Americans to Prioritize Spending Over Saving

Just 29% of Americans say COVID-19 led them to prioritize saving over spending. Read on to learn more.
A woman sitting in front of a window at home while writing in a notebook and drinking coffee.
Updated by Jack Caporal

Survey: Optimism Grows About Keeping Financial New Year's Resolutions in 2025

See the latest poll on top financial resolutions for 2025, like paying off debt, saving, and investing.
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Updated by Jack Caporal

American Households' Average Monthly Expenses: $6,440

The average monthly expenses for an American household total $6,440. But where does that all go? Read on to find out how much we spend on housing, food, and more.
An older adult uses a credit card to make a payment on a smartphone in their living room.
Updated by Jack Caporal

Beating Inflation: Credit Card Rewards and Points

Credit cards can mitigate inflation, particularly in hard hit categories like groceries, gas, and travel.
Couple sitting on couch after difficult conversation.
Updated by Jack Caporal

52% of Americans Say Secret Spending or Lying About Money Is Cheating

Most Americans thinks secret spending or lying about money counts as cheating in a relationship. Find out what else Americans think about financial infidelity.
A person uses a credit card and laptop to purchase something online from their kitchen.
Updated by Jack Caporal

Study: Most Americans Have One or Two Credit Cards

Most Americans don't have more than a couple credit cards. How many credit cards should you have? Find out what the research says.
Adult and teenager playing video games together on a couch
Updated by Jack Caporal

Video Game Spending Statistics

American families spend $435 on average every year on video games, including consoles and accessories. See how your spending compares.
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Updated by Jack Caporal

Credit and Debit Card Market Share by Network and Issuer

We've collected statistics on credit card market share and debit card market share. See the most popular issuers, networks, and more in our latest report.
Cute pupils running down the hall in school.
Updated by Jack Caporal

Record $41.5B in Back-to-School Shopping Forecasted for 2023, With 30% of Parents Using Credit Cards

Parents are expected to spend $41.5 billion on back-to-school shopping, and 30% intend to rely on credit cards. Read on to learn more.
Group of young people sitting around a tablet computer showing financial graph.
Updated by Jack Caporal

This Is How Credit Card Companies Hauled in $176 Billion in 2020

Credit card companies earned $176 billion in 2020. Here's how they did it, with specific examples from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and more.
A person sitting at a sunny dining room table and typing on a laptop.
Updated by Jack Caporal

Study: 26% of Americans Have Used ChatGPT for Credit Card Recommendations

Fifty-four percent of Americans surveyed by The Motley Fool Motley Fool Money have used ChatGPT to recommend a financial product. Find out more on how AI is changing personal finance.
Two people driving in a car on a sunny day while looking up directions on a smartphone.
Updated by Jack Caporal

The Average Cost of Car Insurance in All 50 States

The national average annual cost of car insurance in 2023 was $3,017. How does your payment compare? Learn the details here.
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Updated by Jack Caporal

The Average Cost of a Divorce

How much does a divorce cost? We dug into survey results to find the average cost of divorce, including contested, uncontested, and more.
Two people digging holes to plant trees on a sunny day.
Updated by Jack Caporal

Study: The Most Socially Equitable Cities in the U.S.

Is your city socially equitable? Do you think your community does a good job taking care of its members? We used six factors to rank U.S. cities and find the answer.
Woman lounging on her sofa watching tv.
Updated by Jack Caporal

Survey: Most Believe They're Overpaying for Their Subscriptions

Fifty-seven percent of respondents think they’re paying too much for subscriptions. Learn more about the data uncovered in our 2024 Subscription Sanity survey.
Woman smiling as she drives a red vehicle.
Updated by Jack Caporal

The Average Cost of Car Ownership

Estimates put the real cost of car ownership at around $12,000 per year. See a full breakdown here.
A small wooden house with couple blurred in background.
Updated by Jack Caporal

The Largest Mortgage Lenders in the U.S.

More than 4,800 institutions provided mortgages in 2023. Fifteen of the top 25 lenders were non-bank financial institutions. Read on to learn our findings.
A young couple holds hands and smiles as they sit on the floor near moving boxes.
Updated by Jack Caporal

Study: Rent-to-Own: Pros, Cons, and Consumer Views

Seventy percent of Americans are aware of the rent-to-own process and 79% would consider using a rent-to-own agreement in 2023, but concerns remain.