Despite wage gains, lower-income families have been hit hard by inflation and the expiration of pandemic-era benefits.

While the White House is asking for more money for the Women, Infants, and Children program, a House bill would reduce WIC funds.

Already, child care inflation is running nearly double the rate of overall inflation.

National reading and math scores are way down. But school leaders say it can be hard to put all that money toward instruction.

The Biden administration, pressured to avoid new spending, may reallocate the money to pandemic health care needs.

The pandemic response program provided billions of dollars that were meant to help get unhoused people into permanent housing.

For one thing, more people are sick. For another, government aid has dried up.

Hotels, restaurants, pubs and clubs suffered in December, normally a strong season, due to the pandemic and may need more help.

With the expiration of federally mandated COVID sick leave and related tax incentives, businesses are on their own.

The personal savings rate dropped in November to its lowest level since December 2017.