Making it harder to cancel a subscription can boost corporate revenues by over 200%. Americans overwhelmingly support bans on hidden or extra fees, and policymakers should act to protect families and restore trust. Read the @Groundwork report: https://groundworkcollaborative.org/work/taking-on-the-annoyance-economy/
Americans lose at least $165 billion a year navigating the “Annoyance Economy,” from customer service hoops to junk fees & spam calls. @AlexSJacquez says these practices harm low-income families, erode trust in institutions, and enrich corporations without any productive return.
Our new report on the Annoyance Economy shows how corporations can make up to 200% more revenue by making it more difficult to cancel a subscription.
“I'm looking at you, gym memberships, by the way.”
With algorithmic pricing on the rise, we’re about to lose something we’ve always counted on: a price tag that simply tells you the price with no games or guesswork.
Our @owenslindsay1 chatted with @politico about the dangers ahead and what policymakers can do about it.
Great example of an effective anti-price gouging policy via @superwuster. Now let's expand these rules to more areas!
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/opinion/price-gouging-mamdani.html
Trump’s tariffs exert heavy burden on midsize US companies
When Republicans let ACA premium tax credits expire, we warned it was life & death.
New research from @EconomicPolicy & @BreyonWilliams shows that letting these tax credits expire could lead to 200+ preventable Black deaths every year, simply because people lose access to
Communities across the country are facing a similar problem: not enough housing supply.
“This is a chronic problem,” said our @AlexSJacquez to @CBS19News. The lack of new construction “has all but eliminated starter homes from the market.”
The Wall Street Journal says it all:
“The manufacturing boom President Trump promised would usher in a golden age for America is going in reverse.”
Airports receive billions in federal taxpayer dollars. The least they can do is keep prices fair for travelers.
A @9NEWS investigation found that nearly 3 out of 4 items at Denver’s airport were marked up more than 15% - with some items topping 100%.
As @AlexSJacquez put it:
US homebuilders’ confidence slipped again this month, bogged down by persistent worries over affordability and high construction costs.
“Knowing my spouse’s birthday is tomorrow is of interest to a retailer because they can charge me more for flowers... This could change shopping as we know it.” - @owenslindsay1.
AI tools baked into search & shopping platforms can now collect personal data that can then be used
NEW from @WSJ:
🚨Companies big and small say they are raising prices early this year -- pointing a finger at tariffs
🚨After holding the line on prices for months, companies have begun a new round of increases, in some cases by high-single-digit percentage points
Valentine’s Day spending is set to hit $30 billion, with prices up over 15% from last year. Love may be priceless, but everything else definitely isn’t.
New analysis from @Groundwork and @TCFdotorg shows what’s to blame for these soaring prices: President Trump’s erratic and
Banks would rather lend at 6.5% than let you assume your seller's 2.5%. Unlocking assumable and portable mortgages won't fix the housing crisis, but it could kickstart a stagnant market.
@BharatRamamurti and @Groundwork's research on mobile mortgages featured on @NPR:
