U.S.LIVE REPORT

Americans say they're broke but keep spending anyway

Fox News says consumer confidence is low while spending keeps climbing, and a financial expert lays out five reasons for the gap; your receipts are the evidence.

On air: Hank Ledger on Wake Up, America
Published 5:24 AM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

At a glance

First reported by Fox News: “Americans say they're broke. So why can't they stop spending so much?”
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 5:24 AM ET on Wake Up, America, by Hank Ledger.
Topics: Americans.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

Fox NewsAmericans say they're broke. So why can't they stop spending so much?

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorAmericans keep telling pollsters they're broke, and then they keep spending like they're not. Lola Cruz is watching that disconnect live this morning.
Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentHank, I'm outside a coffee drive-through at five twenty-five in the morning, and the line behind me wraps around the building and halfway into the next zip code.
Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentConsumer confidence is in the basement, but spending keeps rising, and a financial expert says there are five reasons why.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorFive reasons.
Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentI've covered twenty years of people with nothing, Hank, and I've never seen anyone with nothing order a large with extra foam. The sign says the line is forty minutes, and nobody has left.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo the survey says gloom, and the receipts say oat milk.
Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentI asked the one man who'd talk to me how things were, and he said fine, then admitted he was the guy handing out the coffee.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorRex has sports, and I hear he's spending everything on opinions.