Pericles Financial Services

09/01/2026

U.S. credit card debt is approaching a record high.

Americans’ credit card balances reached $1.26 trillion in the second quarter, rising by $21 billion, according to new data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

That puts credit card debt just below the all-time high of $1.28 trillion set late last year.

Strong consumer spending is one factor behind higher balances. Rising prices for essentials like groceries and gas may also be contributing.

Delinquencies remain a concern. The share of credit card balances more than 90 days delinquent rose from 7.6% to 12.8% from mid-2022 through early 2026.

Total U.S. household debt now stands at $18.8 trillion. Auto loan debt also reached a new high of $1.71 trillion.

For households, rising debt is a reminder that everyday expenses, interest rates, minimum payments, and emergency costs can all affect financial flexibility.


Source:

Americans' credit card debt reached $1.26 trillion, increasing by $21 billion in the second quarter of this year, according to new data.

08/12/2026

Markets navigated mixed signals in July. Inflation eased, tech faced pressure, and energy surged. Meanwhile, Americans are planning record travel spending in 2026: \$1.37 trillion. What's shaping your household budget this summer?

Monthly Market Insights | August 2026 U.S. and Canadian Markets Stocks were mixed in July as investors navigated a cross-current of news on the outlook for AI spending and Q2 corporate reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average led, adding 0.32 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index edged down 0....

08/10/2026

Over the next decade, women are set to control up to $30 trillion in financial assets. But wage gaps, caregiving responsibilities, and life changes like divorce can all impact long-term outcomes.

Women investors are doing things differently—trading less, thinking long-term, and staying curious. This isn’t about catching up. It’s about moving forward with confidence.

Source: Forbes.com, March 30, 2026

08/03/2026

Living longer doesn’t automatically mean living better.

Healthy Aging Month is a reminder that how we age is shaped by more than just time. Staying active, mentally sharp, and socially connected all play a role—and so does the ability to support those lifestyles over time.

Small, consistent habits—both physical and financial—can influence what those years look like.



Sources
World Health Organization, Ageing and Health, October 2025
American Medical Association, What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Healthy Aging, September 2025
Stanford Medicine, Five Healthy Habits for Successfully Aging, January 2026
EBRI/Greenwald, 2025 Retirement Confidence Survey, April 2025

07/20/2026

George Washington had a fiery temper. Every portrait of Washington displays a man with a calm disposition, military bearing, and clenched jaw (no doubt due to his fake teeth). But there was more to him, learn here!

This article describes the life and achievements of George Washington, commander of the Continental Army and first President of the United States of America.

07/18/2026

Did Samuel Adams actually brew beer? Most people associate him with the beer brand, but evidence is unclear if he ever actually brewed any! However, he did run the family business, which sold malted barley to breweries.

The name of Samuel Adams is synonymous with the beer brand and industry, but the man himself was more successful as a politician and revolutionary.

07/14/2026

John Hancock was one of the wealthiest Founding Fathers! One estimate places his wealth at $350,000 upon his death, or about $9.5 million today. That was enough to represent 1/714th of the fledging America’s gross national product at the time!

John Hancock (January 23, 1737 [O.S. January 12, 1736] – October 8, 1793) was an American Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution.[1] He was the longest-serving president of the Continental Congress, having served as the second president of the Second...

07/10/2026

You know his name, but do you know everything he invented? Ben Franklin was a prodigious inventor with notable inventions including the lightning rod, bifocals, swim fins and the catheter. Here's other notable inventions from the founding father!

Benjamin Franklin was many things in his lifetime: a printer, a postmaster, an ambassador, an author, a scientist, a Founding Father. Above all, he was an inventor, creating solutions to common problems, innovating new technology, and even making life a little more musical.

07/08/2026

Markets posted solid second-quarter gains as investors responded to upbeat economic reports, continued diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, and strong first-quarter corporate numbers. The S&P 500 rose 14.87%, the Nasdaq gained 21.41%, and the Dow picked up 12.90%, while Canada’s S&P/TSX Composite added 6.37%. Looking ahead, markets may continue to react to Middle East updates, oil prices, inflation trends, and the pace of global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz. From U.S. home price growth to Canadian housing forecasts, this quarter’s by-the-numbers highlights the data behind one of North America’s most closely watched markets.

Quarterly Market Insights | July 2026 U.S. and Canadian Markets Stocks saw solid gains in the second quarter, riding a wave of enthusiasm over upbeat economic reports, ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, and strong first-quarter corporate numbers. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 14...

07/06/2026

While serving as third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson kept a pair of grizzly bears in a cage on the White House lawn! The bears were a gift from Captain Zebulon Pike, an early explorer of the Louisiana Territory. Learn more!

In 1807, two grizzly bear cubs briefly lived on the White House grounds. They are just some of the animals, wild and domestic, who made their home on the Mall. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, the land of the Mall was a grazing space for farm animals. The Mall has also been a home to wild animals....