Last year, 6% of Vanguard retirement savers made difficult withdrawals from their 401(k) accounts, the highest amount ever. The needy share has increased dramatically in recent years, up from 1.7% in 2020.

Even among Fidelity’s retirement savers, withdrawals from those in need have increased rapidly.

Overall, American companies and their employees are doing a better job of saving for retirement. For example, 61% of Vanguard retirement plans now automatically enroll new employees in a 401(k), up from 54% in 2020. Automatic enrollment tends to increase your savings rate.

But the rise in withdrawals by those in need suggests that some retirement savers are financially vulnerable. That means living paycheck to paycheck and not having enough savings outside of retirement accounts for emergencies.

“It’s still a small number at 6%, but it’s worth noting,” said David Stinnett, director of strategic retirement consulting at Vanguard. He said the median hardship withdrawal in 2025 will total $1,900. The most common reason for withdrawal was to prevent foreclosure or eviction.

According to Powerball, the jackpot has been won nearly 200 times since the lottery’s inception in 1992. Currently, 48 lotteries in the United States participate in Powerball games, but five states do not offer Powerball games: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.

The top five states with the most recipients include Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

The most recent Powerball jackpot winner was on Monday, March 2, when a lucky player in Arkansas won a $251 million jackpot. Once winners receive their prize, they can choose to receive an annuitized payment or a lump sum of $118 million. At this time, no one has won the jackpot.

Inflation was one of several factors considered to be a threat to the grocery retail business. Tariffs are reported as a new threat in 2025 filings compared to 2024.

One of Publix’s strengths is that it was able to meet its cash needs without the need for debt financing, unlike some of its grocery peers, according to financial reports.

Publix’s 2025 SEC Annual Report provides an overview of its financial health

In Publix’s 2025 10-K annual report (approximately 50 pages), the company provides an overview of its financials as of December.

In honor of National Farm Day on March 10 and America’s 250th anniversary, the brand is recruiting four ranch enthusiasts for a “Flavor Quest” across Europe this summer.

Today, the brand announced the Hidden Valley Lunch Bassador program. This is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for ranching enthusiasts to spread American flavor overseas and get paid while doing so.”

“Ranch dressing is a distinctly American creation: invented here, perfected here, and obsessed with here,” Hidden Valley said in a March 10 news release. “But many people around the world have never experienced the tangy flavor that Americans cherish.”

According to Hidden Valley, Ranch Bassaders will be paid to document their seven-week adventure combining OG Ranch Dressing and local cuisine.

Self-driving car technology is no longer the stuff of science fiction. In fact, self-driving cars are already ferrying passengers to and from their destinations on American roads.

Uber, the world’s largest ride-hailing company, is making a big bet on the future of self-driving vehicle transportation.

Let’s take a look at how this partnership could change ridesharing in the future.

Uber partners with Amazon’s self-driving car company to transform the ride-sharing experience

On March 11, Zoox and Uber Technologies, Inc. announced a strategic partnership to “deploy Zoox-exclusive robotaxis to Uber,” according to an Uber investor news release.

Zoox is a technology company that develops self-driving cars and is owned by Amazon. These vehicles are already active in the Las Vegas and San Francisco areas. The strategic partnership between the two brands is expected to launch in Las Vegas and Los Angeles in mid-2027.

But while the $1.26 million figure doesn’t make much sense, it appears to be the amount Americans should aim to save, according to data from Northwestern Mutual.

But is a $1.26 million IRA or 401(k) enough to buy your dream retirement? It all depends on how you want to spend your retirement years.

It’s a personal calculation

All retirees have certain basic needs, such as food, shelter, transportation, and medical care. However, even within these categories, costs can vary widely. A 2,500 square foot home with a pool can cost much more to own and maintain than a 1,400 square foot home with a small backyard.

But beyond the basics, the amount of money you need in retirement will depend on what you want to do day-to-day. If you have inexpensive hobbies like hiking or reading, you’ll likely need less money to stay busy than someone who wants to spend their days playing golf or traveling the world.

Lawmakers contributed their two cents (and a piggy bank full of other penny puns) as the House voted 111-1 in favor of SB 1074, sponsored by Sen. Don Gates (R-Niceville). The bill would allow retailers to round cash transactions to avoid penny requirements without running afoul of the Florida Deception and Unfair Trade Practices Act, since the U.S. government has stopped minting pennies.

“This means that if you’re a retailer that does a lot of cash transactions, you could very quickly find yourself in a situation where your customers won’t be able to pay the appropriate amount because the penny is no longer in circulation,” said Rep. Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota), a sponsor of the House version.

“This bill codifies how you should round in those situations and says you, the store owner, can choose whether you want to round in favor of the customer or you want to round in favor of yourself,” she said.

Florida sales tax will continue to be based on the stickered sales price, she said.

The House voted on the Senate bill unchanged, leaving Gov. Ron DeSantis to introduce the bill.

Penny puns were thrown around in the discussion. “I’ll try not to spend more than a penny on it,” Rep. Toby Overdorf (R-Stuart) told the House, announcing, “We finally know what 6 to 7 means. It means 5.”

The only negative vote was from Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, a shop owner.

“I know it’s a joke, but I own a store and I’ve been to other stores, and I see people getting angry about managers being rounded up,” Nixon said. “So I just want to put it out there. It would have been great to have it cut out.”

In case you missed it: What should you do with the pennies in your coin purse if you run out of them?

How do retailers in Florida round pennies?

The bill directs retailers to round pennies as follows:

• If the final total is 1 or 2 cents, it must be rounded down to zero.
• If your final total is 3 or 4 cents, you must round it up to 5 cents.
• If the final total is 6 or 7 cents, it must be rounded down to 5 cents.
• If your final total is 8 or 9 cents, you must round it up to 10 cents.
• Cash transactions ending in 0 or 5 cents are not rounded.

Will all transactions be rounded in Florida?

Cash transactions only if the retailer chooses to do so. The bill allows for that, but does not require it.

Whether you use a card, money order, online purchase, or other non-cash payment, you pay every penny.

Does penny rounding affect Florida sales tax?

no. “Rounding to the nearest whole nickel does not change the sales price, the amount of taxes collected under this chapter, or the surcharges, assessments, or fees imposed on sales,” the bill states.

U.S. Mint presses final cent after more than 200 years

America’s last penny was minted at the United States Mint in Philadelphia, ending coin production that began in 1793 and ended on November 12.

Wait, what happened to Penny?

In February 2025, President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Department of the Treasury to stop producing pennies because the cost to produce them has become more expensive than the value of one penny (more than 3 cents!).

The last penny blank was pressed in Philadelphia on Wednesday, November 12th.

When does SB 1074 go into effect?

Barring a veto, the penny-rounding bill would go into effect as soon as Gov. Ron DeSantis signs it or it becomes law without the governor’s signature.

CA Bridges is a journalist on the service journalism Connect team at USA TODAY Network-Florida. Sign up for our free newsletter, Florida TODAY, to get all of Florida’s best content straight to your inbox every weekday.

The opening adds to the rapid growth spurred by the Big Lots bankruptcy, with Olly’s taking over a pipeline of shuttered retail spaces and steadily converting them into new bargain outlets across the country.

The six planned store openings by the end of March come on the heels of four stores opening earlier this month and five more in February, bringing Oly’s total to 15 new stores this year in 11 states.

From the Midwest to the South, Ollie’s upcoming stores are rapidly rolling out. Here is the complete list:

Where will Ollie’s Bargain Outlet open a new store?

Ollie’s lists six stores scheduled to open in March on its “News and Events” page.

• 3960 Mormon Coulee Rd., La Crosse, WI (opens March 25)
• 8400 East Fwy., Fort Worth, Texas (opens March 25)
• 150 E Oak St., Ste 1, Conway, Arkansas (opening March 19)
• 1802 Decatur Pike, Athens, TN (opens March 19)
• 3200 S Airport Rd., Traverse City, MI (opening March 18)
• 2500 Jacksboro Pike, St. 1, Jacksboro, TN (opens March 12)