U.S. Economy and Cost of Living

GoFundMe reported a surge in 2025 of fundraisers seeking basic living expenses — a 17% rise in U.S. campaigns for rent, groceries, housing and fuel — with top campaign keywords including “work,” “home,” “food,” “bill” and “care.” The company said “monthly bills” was the second-fastest growing category behind nonprofit appeals, CEO Tim Cadogan said more people are turning to the site to cover rent and immediate expenses, and related campaigns spiked sixfold during a 43‑day government shutdown that halted SNAP distributions.