Honolulu, San Diego, and Charleston may be almost paradise to those in search of laid-back living, though the sunny skies can come with premium prices. In San Diego, for example, the cost of living runs 45% above the national average.

When to retire is also a big decision, with many Americans contemplating if they’ll hit their goal age, according to Empower research. The upshot is 78% say having a financial plan to guide their choices ahead makes them happier and less stressed.

— The Editors 

📩 Check, please: A growing number of Americans are tapping into Social Security early. First-time filings jumped more than 15% year over year in March, signaling a “dramatic increase,” according to the Social Security Administration. See how much more retirees could claim by waiting until full retirement age on The Currency^TM.

✈️ A flying start: Younger savers are making bold moves with retirement savings. Gen Z and Millennials are increasingly opening Roth IRAs to potentially grow their money tax-deferred and penalty-free. Among those contributing to an IRA or Roth IRA, 41% were under 40 in 2022, up from 28% in 2016. In households led by 20-somethings, nearly 1 in 5 now hold Roth IRAs, nearly triple the share from 2016.

💲 Silicon dreams: Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft are on track to spend up to $320 billion on AI this year — up from $230 billion last year. Meta raised its estimate to as much as $72 billion, as tech leaders invest heavily in what many see as the next frontier.

💸 Angelic allies: The number of female entrepreneurs seeking capital from angel investors is flying high — and more women are stepping in to meet the demand. Women now make up almost one half* of angel investors and the trend could grow: Women could gain $34 trillion through the Great Wealth Transfer. 

Rising stars

Some high school juniors are skipping the traditional college path — because $70,000-a-year job offers* are already on the table. Employers are increasingly recruiting high schoolers in skilled trades including plumbing, electrical work, and welding as retiring Boomers lead to worker shortages. It’s part of a bigger shift: Shop class is making a comeback.

A taste of luxury

Fresh produce sales recently hit an all-time high of $92.3 billion, with some willing to splurge on fruits like Omakase strawberries ($12/6 berries), Sumo Citrus mandarins ($4/each), and Cotton Candy grapes (≈$5/pound).

Six in 10* Americans say cost is important when purchasing food: At-home food prices fell 0.4% in April, the largest decline since September 2020. 

Escape on demand

Streaming for free is gaining traction as more households cut back on non-essentials. Ad-supported services are taking off: PlutoTV viewership rose 15%,* Tubi jumped 21%, and The Roku Channel is up 67% since April 2024.

This comes as 32% of Americans are dialing back discretionary spending and non-essential expenses, according to Empower research. Roughly half* of consumers say they pay too much for the streaming services they use.

Travel loyalty programs are evolving, with shorter booking windows, fewer award seats, and dynamic pricing. With Americans spending $1,099 per trip in Q1 2025, points and miles could still help offset travel costs — with the right strategy. Find out how to get the most out of rewards on The Currency.