Topic
americans
Business What Do Americans Spend on Housing? WIRED Survey Reveals Affordability Crisis Deepens
WIRED's 2026 reader survey of over 200 Americans reveals a severe housing affordability crisis. Nearly half of renters and a quarter of homeowners exceed the 30% income threshold. Median monthly mortgage for new buyers is $2,152; median asking rent is $1,579. The data indicates significant consumer financial stress with implications for housing markets and consumer spending.
Study Finds US Traders Funneled Billions to Polymarket Despite Federal Ban
A study by Rutgers statistician Harry Crane estimates that US-based traders funneled between $10.6 billion and $26.7 billion through Polymarket from May 2025 to April 2026, representing about 30% of the platform's total volume. The trades occurred despite Polymarket being banned in the US since 2022 for operating as an unregistered derivatives platform. The study, commissioned by the Coalition for Prediction Markets, used indirect behavioral proxies to identify US activity, as traders often use VPNs to bypass restrictions.