American People Newshttps://americanpeoplenews.com/American People News reports the decisions, data and rules behind American household budgets: jobs, prices, money, health and safety, from official sources.en-US Median household income rose to a record $87,460 in 2025: what the Census report showshttps://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/census-household-income-2025/https://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/census-household-income-2025/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 15:50:00 +0000EconomyReal median household income rose 2.6% in 2025, the Census Bureau found, while income at the bottom did not change significantly. What the figures measure. Food makers must drop Red No. 3 by January 2027: the FDA's 2025 order, confirmed in 2026https://americanpeoplenews.com/safety/fda-red-no-3-food-dye-revocation/https://americanpeoplenews.com/safety/fda-red-no-3-food-dye-revocation/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 15:50:00 +0000Health & SafetyThe FDA revoked approval of the red dye in food and ingested drugs in 2025 and confirmed the deadlines in 2026. Where it is used and how to spot it on labels. Medicare's first negotiated drug prices, agreed in 2024 and in force since 2026: what changes nexthttps://americanpeoplenews.com/money/medicare-first-negotiated-drug-prices/https://americanpeoplenews.com/money/medicare-first-negotiated-drug-prices/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 15:50:00 +0000Your MoneyPrices CMS agreed for 10 drugs in 2024 have applied since January 2026. Four drugs leave the program in 2027, and the other six get inflation-adjusted prices. Texas raised its school homestead exemption to $140,000 in 2025: what it means for your tax billhttps://americanpeoplenews.com/states/texas-school-homestead-exemption-140000/https://americanpeoplenews.com/states/texas-school-homestead-exemption-140000/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 15:50:00 +0000StatesVoters approved Proposition 13 in 2025, lifting the school tax exemption on a home from $100,000 to $140,000. Who qualifies, how to apply and what it saves. California water board adopts Sacramento River and Delta plan pairing river flows with habitat restorationhttps://americanpeoplenews.com/states/california-bay-delta-plan-sacramento-river-update-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/states/california-bay-delta-plan-sacramento-river-update-october-2026/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 13:46:00 +0000StatesThe plan sets flow and habitat rules for water drawn from rivers that supply nearly 30 million Californians. It takes effect after a state legal review. CMS finalizes organ procurement rule as 35 of 55 donation areas head for competitionhttps://americanpeoplenews.com/government/cms-organ-procurement-organizations-final-rule-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/government/cms-organ-procurement-organizations-final-rule-october-2026/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 13:46:00 +0000GovernmentThe rule defines the unsafe practices for which CMS can decertify an organization at once. About 14 areas may fall into its lowest tier in the 2026 review. I bonds bought from November 1 will earn 5.51%, with the highest fixed rate since 2006https://americanpeoplenews.com/money/i-bond-savings-bond-rates-november-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/money/i-bond-savings-bond-rates-november-2026/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 13:46:00 +0000Your MoneyTreasury's new 5.51% rate pairs a 1.40% fixed rate with inflation, up from 4.26% for bonds issued since May. EE bonds rise to 2.90% from 2.40%. Rental vacancy rate rose to 7.6% in the third quarter, the highest since early 2014, Census data showhttps://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/rental-vacancy-homeownership-rates-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/rental-vacancy-homeownership-rates-october-2026/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 13:46:00 +0000EconomyMore rental homes stood empty than a year earlier, when the rate was 7.1%. Homeownership, at 65.5%, was statistically unchanged, the Census Bureau said. Whole Foods ashwagandha capsules recalled over Salmonella risk, and ground cinnamon in 14 states over leadhttps://americanpeoplenews.com/safety/whole-foods-ashwagandha-cinnamon-lead-recalls-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/safety/whole-foods-ashwagandha-cinnamon-lead-recalls-october-2026/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 13:46:00 +0000Health & SafetyOne lot of 365 Whole Foods Market ashwagandha sold nationwide may carry Salmonella. Wise Wife ground cinnamon had elevated lead, a Connecticut lab found. Bodum recalls 5.9 million French presses; space heaters and gas boilers also recalledhttps://americanpeoplenews.com/safety/bodum-french-press-heater-boiler-recalls-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/safety/bodum-french-press-heater-boiler-recalls-october-2026/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:36:00 +0000Health & SafetyThe CPSC posted 12 recalls on October 29, among them about 338,800 DREO space heaters that can catch fire and 4,726 gas boilers with carbon monoxide risks. FTC warns 25 health plan marketers as 2027 open enrollment starts November 1https://americanpeoplenews.com/money/ftc-health-plan-marketing-warning-open-enrollment-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/money/ftc-health-plan-marketing-warning-open-enrollment-october-2026/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:36:00 +0000Your MoneyLetters flag ads that pass off limited plans or discount cards as full insurance. HealthCare.gov sign-ups for 2027 run from November 1 to January 15. Labor Department makes pharmacy benefit managers disclose their pay to large employer planshttps://americanpeoplenews.com/government/labor-department-pbm-fee-disclosure-rule-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/government/labor-department-pbm-fee-disclosure-rule-october-2026/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:36:00 +0000GovernmentA final rule for about 131,000 self-insured plans requires disclosure of drugmaker rebates and pharmacy spreads from plan years starting July 1, 2027. Jobless rates fell from a year earlier in 226 of 387 U.S. metro areas in Septemberhttps://americanpeoplenews.com/states/metro-area-unemployment-rates-september-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/states/metro-area-unemployment-rates-september-2026/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:36:00 +0000StatesRates ranged from 1.7% in Bismarck, Rapid City and Sioux Falls to 20.8% in El Centro, California. Two Connecticut metros had the biggest increases. Wages rose 3.1% in the year to September, slower than prices, BLS cost index showshttps://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/wages-benefits-employment-cost-index-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/wages-benefits-employment-cost-index-october-2026/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:36:00 +0000EconomyEmployers' wage costs rose 3.1% and benefit costs 3.9% over 12 months, the Employment Cost Index shows. Adjusted for inflation, private wages fell 0.6%. California orders Highway 1 task force and eases flood-work rules as El Niño buildshttps://americanpeoplenews.com/states/california-highway-1-el-nino-executive-orders-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/states/california-highway-1-el-nino-executive-orders-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000StatesGov. Gavin Newsom's October 27 orders set up a Highway 1 task force and suspend some environmental rules for flood-prevention work until January 31. CMS proposes eligibility checks before marketplace enrollees get premium help from 2028https://americanpeoplenews.com/government/cms-proposes-marketplace-subsidy-verification-2028/https://americanpeoplenews.com/government/cms-proposes-marketplace-subsidy-verification-2028/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000GovernmentThe proposed rule would require verification of income, immigration status and other details before premium tax credits are paid. Comments close November 27. Consumer prices rose 3.7% in the year to September as gasoline jumped, BLS sayshttps://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/consumer-prices-september-2026-cpi/https://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/consumer-prices-september-2026-cpi/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000EconomyThe Consumer Price Index rose 0.6% in September and 3.7% from a year earlier, up from 3.4% in August, as the gasoline index climbed 9.1% in one month. FCC changes how you opt out of robocalls and texts, starting November 25https://americanpeoplenews.com/government/fcc-robocall-opt-out-rules-change-november-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/government/fcc-robocall-opt-out-rules-change-november-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000GovernmentA stop request may end only one kind of informational call, and callers may require a single opt-out method. A follow-up proposal is open for comment. Federal Reserve holds its key rate at 3.75% to 4%, with two votes for a hikehttps://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/fed-holds-interest-rates-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/fed-holds-interest-rates-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000EconomyThe Fed left its benchmark rate unchanged on October 28, six weeks after raising it. Two of the 12 voting members wanted another quarter-point increase. FTC orders nine companies, from Delta to Walmart, to report whether personal data shapes prices and payhttps://americanpeoplenews.com/money/ftc-personalized-pricing-orders-airlines-uber-walmart-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/money/ftc-personalized-pricing-orders-airlines-uber-walmart-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Your MoneyDelta, United, JetBlue, Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, Target and Walmart have 45 days to say whether and how personal data affects prices and workers' pay. FTC and 20 states sue Dollar General, saying shoppers paid more than shelf priceshttps://americanpeoplenews.com/money/ftc-states-sue-dollar-general-overcharges-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/money/ftc-states-sue-dollar-general-overcharges-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Your MoneyThe lawsuit says the chain logged 29,265 complaints about unhonored marked prices since 2023 and has paid over $6 million in earlier state settlements. U.S. economy grew at a 3.4% annual rate in the third quarter, first BEA estimate showshttps://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/gdp-third-quarter-2026-advance-estimate-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/gdp-third-quarter-2026-advance-estimate-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000EconomyGrowth picked up from 2.2% in the spring as investment and government spending rose. In September, prices outran incomes and the saving rate fell to 3.8%. Georgia extends its gas tax suspension through November 30https://americanpeoplenews.com/states/georgia-gas-tax-suspension-extended-november-30/https://americanpeoplenews.com/states/georgia-gas-tax-suspension-extended-november-30/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000StatesGov. Brian Kemp's order keeps the state's 33.3-cent gasoline tax and 37.3-cent diesel tax suspended through Thanksgiving, as fuel prices stay high. Queens fish firm recalls cold-smoked sprats over botulism risk after FDA warninghttps://americanpeoplenews.com/safety/haifa-smoked-fish-sprats-botulism-recall-october-2026/https://americanpeoplenews.com/safety/haifa-smoked-fish-sprats-botulism-recall-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Health & SafetyHaifa Smoked Fish recalled all its cold-smoked sprats on October 27, four days after the FDA warned the public and said the firm had declined to recall them. How a federal rule is made, and how you can comment on onehttps://americanpeoplenews.com/government/how-a-federal-rule-is-made-and-how-to-comment/https://americanpeoplenews.com/government/how-a-federal-rule-is-made-and-how-to-comment/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000GovernmentFederal law generally requires agencies to publish proposed rules and take public comment before they take effect. Here is how it works and how to take part. How the IRS adjusts tax brackets for inflation, and when the 2027 figures arrivehttps://americanpeoplenews.com/money/how-irs-inflation-adjustments-work-2027-tax-year/https://americanpeoplenews.com/money/how-irs-inflation-adjustments-work-2027-tax-year/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Your MoneyTax brackets, the standard deduction and many other amounts rise each year with the chained CPI. Here is how the formula works and what is set for 2026. How product recalls work in the U.S., and how to check what you ownhttps://americanpeoplenews.com/safety/how-product-recalls-work-and-how-to-check/https://americanpeoplenews.com/safety/how-product-recalls-work-and-how-to-check/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Health & SafetyDifferent agencies handle recalls of consumer products, vehicles, food and medicine. Here is who does what, what a recall entitles you to and where to check. How state minimum wages are set, and the 2027 rates in four stateshttps://americanpeoplenews.com/states/how-state-minimum-wages-are-set-2027/https://americanpeoplenews.com/states/how-state-minimum-wages-are-set-2027/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000StatesThe federal minimum is $7.25 an hour, but many states set their own and adjust them for inflation. How the rules work, and what changes in four states in 2027. How the Consumer Price Index is measured, and why your own inflation rate can differhttps://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/how-the-consumer-price-index-is-measured/https://americanpeoplenews.com/economy/how-the-consumer-price-index-is-measured/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000EconomyThe CPI tracks about 80,000 prices a month in 75 urban areas. Here is how it is built, who it covers, what it leaves out and why it may not match your bills. Social Security and SSI payments will rise 3.6% from January 2027https://americanpeoplenews.com/money/social-security-cola-2027-benefits-rise-3-6-percent/https://americanpeoplenews.com/money/social-security-cola-2027-benefits-rise-3-6-percent/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Your MoneyThe 2027 cost-of-living adjustment is the largest since 2023. The cap on earnings taxed for Social Security rises to $192,300, the official notice says.