And why more homebuyers are backing out
| |  | | February 2, 2026 | | | | | | | | More Americans Are Losing the Luxury of Choice | | | By Lindsay VanSomeren
Most of us think of living "paycheck to paycheck" as just scraping by. But there are also people — often high earners — who choose to live without any breathing room in their budget.
Both scenarios involve needing your next paycheck, but only one is unavoidable. Here's how that's translating in today's economy, according to new data. | | | | | | | | | | 16.3% | That's how many pending home purchases were canceled in December — the highest percentage for any month since at least 2017, according to a Redfin analysis of U.S. real estate data.
The increase from 14.9% in December 2024 underscores that people in the market for a house have more bargaining power as high costs keep many potential buyers sidelined.
"Home sellers outnumber buyers by a record margin, meaning the buyers who are in the market have options and may walk away if they believe they can find a better or more affordable home," Chen Zhao, head of economics research at Redfin, said in a statement.
Among the 50 biggest metro areas, cancellations were highest in Atlanta, Jacksonville, and San Antonio. | | | | | | WEEK AHEAD ON WALL STREET | | | | Politics, Personnel, and Payrolls | | | By Mario Ismailanji
Just as investors began to worry that another government shutdown could derail more key economic reports, cooler heads prevailed in Washington. Lawmakers reached a temporary funding deal late last week that virtually ensures the Bureau of Labor Statistics will stay open. That means the crucial January jobs report will be released on Friday as scheduled.
The report will be the first clean look at the 2026 labor market, and the numbers are even more relevant now that President Trump announced he was nominating Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve. | | | | | | | | | | | Informed investment decisions start with informed investors. Here's what's making headlines:
| | | | | |  | | For some Americans, health insurance has become more expensive than the mortgage. (The Wall Street Journal) | | | | | | | | | | | Can we control AI? Google DeepMind execs discuss their plan for responsible development. (CNBC) | | | | | | | | |  | | In Japan, trillions of dollars in financial assets are held by seniors in cognitive decline, putting the economy at risk. It's a problem some experts warn could go global. (Bloomberg) | | | | | | | | | | | Intel, insights, and inspo for your money. | | On the Money cuts through the noise of day‑to‑day financial news to bring you a more thoughtful point of view on what's important in this moment — and how it impacts your bottom line. We value your trust above all. | | | | | | | | | | Did you find today's newsletter valuable? | | | | |
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