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Friday, 3 October 2025

Psst. What do you spend on gifts?

08:27

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Plus: Do you have missing 401(k) money? ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Daily Money

ALL THE MONEY NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Fri Oct 3 2025

 

Betty Lin-Fisher Consumer reporter

@blinfisher

Good morning and Happy Friday! This is Betty Lin-Fisher with Friday's consumer-focused edition of The Daily Money.

You might be familiar with the Consumer Price Index, which is reported each month by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of goods. It is often used as a barometer of the state of the economy.

But could gifts, tips and the Tooth Fairy give us some insights, too?

Empower, a financial services company, has a new study of the "going rate" of several items such as gifts for birthdays, holidays and weddings. Empower's Rebecca Rickert says Americans are stressed by higher prices and are expressing "gift fatigue" and "no gift" policies, in addition to changes in tipping habits and allowances.

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Stylishly packaged boxes with gifts.

PavelIvanov, Getty Images/iStockphoto

You could have missing 401(k) money

Did you know that more than $2 trillion is sitting in forgotten or left-behind 401(k) retirement savings accounts? That is an average balance of $66,691, reports my colleague Daniel de Visé.

Even more startling is that those 31.9 million accounts represent nearly one quarter of assets held in 401(k) plans.

Here is how you search to see if your 401(k) savings are among those funds.

📰 Consumer stories you shouldn't miss 📰

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You can't report fraud to the FTC during the government shutdown.
How can you fortify your home against natural disaster?
Video: How to find the perfect gift.
What is period leave? This U.S. company is offering it.

🍔 Today's Menu 🍔

Do you love M&M's and Crocs? Now you can combine those two loves with M&M-inspired Crocs.

Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which breaks down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.

A woman holds presents in her hands.

A new Empower study offers the "going rate" for gifts, tips after surveying consumers.

Illustration of a man putting money into several piggy banks for retirement.
 

$2.1 trillion sits in forgotten 401(k) accounts. Could one be yours?

More than $2 trillion sits in forgotten or left-behind 401(k) accounts, with an average balance of $66,691, according to a new report.

The sky begins to brighten just before sunrise behind the U.S. Capitol on the second day of a federal government shutdown in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 2, 2025.
 

FTC halts fraud complaints and spam call registry in shutdown

The FTC's fraud reporting website and registry that lets you opt out of telemarketing won't be available during the shutdown, the agency said.

Defending your home against natural disasters can include making sure trees won't come into contact with the structure.
 

How can you fortify your home against natural disaster?

It can be daunting to consider all the things you have to do to make your home natural disaster-proof. Here's how to start and where to look for help.

How to be the best gift giver.
 

How to give the perfect gift any time of year

Don't stress about finding the perfect gift. This tip can help you find the perfect gift any time of year.

Closeup of business woman holding sore tummy while feeling ill with menstrual stomach cramps in an office.
 

This US company is offering paid 'period leave.' What is that?

Data shows more than half of U.S. women experience some degree of dysmenorrhea, the medical term for a painful period.

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American Airlines' new AI flight search helps you find trips by vibe

American Airlines is rolling out a new booking tool that lets people search for flights by experience type, not airports.

A United States Postal Service (USPS) van parks on E. Davenport Street during a delivery, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa.
 

USPS is increasing prices for the holiday season. Here's what to know.

The Postal Service said the move is part of a strategic effort to revitalize the agency.

M&M'S and Crocs have collaborated on a new limited-edition collection of colorful clogs and charms.
 

New M&Ms Crocs are coming Oct. 9. Here's how to get them.

Crocs and M&Ms have a new limited-time collection of footwear and charms coming Oct. 9. Available will be two pairs of crocs and a 7-pack of charms.

USA TODAY
 

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