FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. /PRNewswire/ — Inflation is still driving prices on everything from groceries to holiday gifts, but a new Debt.com survey shows many Americans aren’t as concerned about sticker shock as they were last year.

Debt.com polled 1,000 U.S. adults about their holiday shopping plans. More respondents (60%) than last year (54%) feel they will spend more on holiday shopping this year because of inflation. Among those respondents, 3 in 5 (54%) say they will use credit cards to cover the cost of holiday shopping.

It’s an American tradition to go into debt over the holidays. Higher prices and FOMO can lead to more credit card use.

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It’s almost an American tradition to go into debt for the holidays. Leading up to the holidays the fear of high prices and ‘FOMO’ (the fear of missing out) runs deep,” says Howard Dvorkin, CPA and Debt.com chairman.  

Two-thirds (66%) of respondents are shopping earlier than last year. More than 1 in 3 (34%) started in November, and 15% started over the summer when inflation briefly dropped for the first time in two years.

Still, credit card debt increased 16.6% from just a year ago and Americans now owe over a trillion on their credit cards.

With average interest rates of more than 26% on major credit cards, and retail store cards at over 30% Dvorkin asserts, “Shoppers should ask themselves if they really need to buy gifts for everyone or instead, to buy gifts for a small core group of family and friends.”

About Debt.com: Debt.com is a consumer website where people can find help with credit card debt, student loan debt, tax debt, credit repair, bankruptcy, and more. Debt.com works with vetted and certified providers that give the best advice and solutions for consumers ‘when life happens.’

SOURCE Debt.com

RENO, Nev. – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced today that USDA is strengthening its longstanding partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to create jobs and expand access to new and better market opportunities for people in rural America.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to a whole-of-government approach to rebuild the economy for the American people from the bottom up and middle out, especially in the nation’s most underserved and rural communities,” Torres Small said. “At USDA, we are redoubling our commitment to drive economic security and prosperity for people in rural America, so they can find opportunities to succeed right in the places they call home. Strengthening our collaboration with the SBA helps us expand these opportunities for people to build brighter futures for generations to come.”

“Rural small businesses strengthen local economies – creating jobs and serving communities,” SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman said. “SBA’s partnership with USDA will build upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to investing in underserved rural Americans and providing the needed resources to help them start and grow their businesses to advance our economy and global competitiveness.”

Through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed today, USDA and SBA are committing to increase investments in small and underserved communities to help grow the rural economy and create good-paying jobs for people nationwide.

The agencies are also committing to expand opportunities for rural technical assistance providers, entrepreneurs, cooperatives, and small business owners. They will also provide resources to help rural businesses compete in both domestic and international markets.

As part of the MOU, the agencies may work together to:

• Provide joint trainings, technical assistance and mentorship opportunities for rural small business owners and entrepreneurs.
• Help agricultural producers and small businesses identify ways to export their products around the world.
• Expand collaboration between USDA’s Rural Partners Network and SBA’s Resource Partners Network.
• Cross-promote programs that support rural businesses and socially disadvantaged communities, and more.

For more information, see the full MOU.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean-energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

Source: USDA

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Modernized Delivery Network and Efficient New Facilities Key to Consumer Savings

WASHINGTON /PRNewswire/ — As the holiday season approaches and online shopping activity intensifies, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is strongly positioned to handle the expected surge in package and mail deliveries in a superior and routine manner ahead of and following Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

“We will be the most affordable way to ship and mail holiday cheer this year.” – Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy

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“Our commitment is unwavering, and our preparation is thorough. We have been strategically planning early and leveraging significant investments in our people, infrastructure, delivery network, and technology,” said Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy. “Thanks to the Delivering for America plan, we will be the most affordable way to ship and mail holiday cheer this year.”

USPS is built for the holidays with affordable, reliable shipping services to help its customers send more joy this season. The ongoing transformation of the Postal Service includes efficient new facilities and a modernized delivery network to better serve its customers this holiday season, and year-round. 

To help customers experience seamless shipping and mailing during the holidays and beyond, USPS offers the following tips:

1. Send Early. Avoid the last-minute rush by sending items well before the recommended holiday shipping and mailing dates available online here.
2. Use Online Tools – Customers can use Click-N-Ship to purchase shipping labels, order Priority Mail packaging, and schedule free carrier pick up directly from their home or office. The Postal Service also offers stamps, shipping supplies, collectibles, and unique items to customers online at The Postal Store.
3. Stay Informed – Sign up for Informed Delivery, a free service from USPS that shows customers preview images of incoming mail, plus status updates about incoming and outbound packages.
4. Ship Safely – Metallic mercury and devices containing metallic mercury are always prohibited in the mail stream. This includes antique items such as thermometers, barometers, blood pressure monitors and similar devices. More information on shipping hazardous materials is available online here.
5. Stay Updated – Utilize the Postal Service’s convenient online USPS Holiday Newsroom at usps.com/holidaynews to find resources, tools, and expert advice to help make holiday shipping and mailing effortless.

No Holiday Surcharges

The Postal Service previously announced it will not levy any additional surcharges for customers this holiday season, offering increased predictability in pricing for customers. There will be no additional fees for residential area delivery, for Saturday delivery or for minimum volumes. USPS will continue to be the most affordable way to mail and ship this holiday season.

Key Investments Ahead of the Holidays

In preparation for the 2023 peak holiday season, USPS made strategic investments under the Delivering for America plan, including:

• USPS Ground Advantage: Introducing an affordable, reliable, and simple ground shipping solution with expected delivery within the U.S. in about 2-5 business days.
• Hiring 10,000 Seasonal Employees: In addition to the 150,000 employees that have converted to full time career-positions with USPS in the past two years.
• 348 New Package Sorting Machines: Enhancing package processing capabilities with additional machines to be installed.
• Increased Daily Package Processing Capacity to 70 Million: This expanded capacity eliminates the need for the Postal Service to lease temporary annexes.
• More Reliable Ground Transportation: Shifting 95% of volume to more reliable ground transportation, reducing reliance on expensive air transportation.

“In the face of the busiest shipping season, the United States Postal Service stands ready,” said DeJoy. “We are confident in our ability to handle the holiday season surge with the same efficiency and reliability that the nation has come to expect from us throughout the year.”

Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 165 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.
usps.com/news

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service