The Latest Breaking News from the Bank of America Institute

The Top 5% of Americans Are Outspending Their Own Paychecks. That's the Risk to Watch.

America’s consumer may be less divided than investors think. But one group is still behaving very differently from everyone else: the richest 5% of households.

Benzinga · Aug 17

Americans are buying more used clothes, but the real story is who's buying what: luxury resale is booming and so is discount

"We’re seeing that growth isn't uniform, and it really is concentrated, seemingly, at the high and low ends of the market when it comes to clothes."

Fortune · Apr 24

Ray Dalio sees a pattern that shows China killing America's economy. This 2,000-year chart explains why

A Bank of America Institute analysis of 2,000 years of GDP data reframes American exceptionalism — and points toward what comes next.

Fortune · Mar 16

Walmart’s CEO Doug McMillon out-earns the average American’s salary in less than 20 hours—during a typical 30-minute commute, he’s already made $1,563

Outgoing Walmart CEO Doug McMillon started out at the company making $6.50 hourly unloading trailers, and after four decades of climbing the ranks, he now fetches $75,000 every day.

Fortune · Jan 9

Apple CEO Tim Cook out-earns the average American’s salary in just 7 hours—to put that into context, he could buy a new $439,000 home in 2 days

Apple CEO Tim Cook has a $74.6 million pay package. Within the 30 minutes it takes most people to commute to the office, Cook is already $4,256 richer.

Fortune · Dec 12, 2025

'Two Different Worlds,' A Quarter Of U.S. Households Are Living Paycheck To Paycheck Study Finds

Nearly one-quarter of U.S. households are living paycheck to paycheck, according to a study by the Bank of America Institute released last week. 

Benzinga · Nov 24, 2025

Businesses Are Turning Toward Wealthier Shoppers. Lower-Income Consumers Are Pulling Back On Spending

U.S. economy may be holding steady overall, but the financial divide is getting harder to ignore. Higher-income households are spending more and seeing stronger wage growth, while lower-income households are increasingly feeling left out, according to recent data from the Bank of America Institute.

Benzinga · Sep 8, 2025

Job-Hopping Has Long Been The Path To Higher Pay. For The First Time Since 2010, Staying Put Is Doing Better

For years, changing jobs was the best way to get a raise. But that trend appears to be cooling off. According to new data from the Bank of America Institute, people who jump from one employer to another are no longer seeing the same kind of pay boosts they once…

Benzinga · Sep 7, 2025

Bank of America says tariffs might spark a ‘reshoring’ boom—but experts say it might be a double-edged sword for the economy

A lack of skilled labor in the U.S. could force companies to invest more heavily in automation.

Fortune · Jun 27, 2025

Credit Card Spending Accelerated In December As Americans Spent On Services And Retail

Household spending was up 2.2% in December versus the prior year.

International Business Times · Jan 10, 2025