Lower internet costs, faster speed could propel broadband adoption: The White House, members of Congress, and 20 ISPs are on board to connect low-income households, but ongoing fiber shortages could delay efforts.

Younger consumers in the UK continue to drive the digital conversation, but older age groups did some catching up during the pandemic. And these older consumers are attractive to marketers and brands by dint of their disposable income.

In the US, higher-income millennials are more likely to own cryptocurrency than their lower-earning peers. Some 61% of those making at least six figures per year own crypto, while just 25% of those earning less than $50,000 hold Bitcoin or the like. Gender plays a role as well—half of millennial men hold these digital currencies, while only one-fifth of women in that age group do so.

The pandemic super-charged digital habits in the UK, particularly among higher-income groups. These people are also in a better place financially as pandemic restrictions lift, but there’s pent-up desire to spend across all income brackets.

Banking in a post-overdraft world: Regions is shaking up its mix of income sources after lowering its customers’ risks of incurring overdraft penalty charges.

US consumers can’t get enough of luxury retail: While Walmart and Target struggle, LVMH and Burberry benefit as affluent customers ramp up their spending.

Canada’s Generation Z—the kids and young adults in the country born between 1997 and 2012—is a lucrative demographic for brands, especially as it ages into higher levels of income.

And among millennial consumers worldwide with more than $250,000 in annual income, 78% say they plan to use more digital and virtual tools in the future, per EY. Yet, wealth managers’ digital offerings remain somewhat limited. For example, only 35% of US wealth apps offer chat functionality for messaging, despite being a frequently requested feature by clients, per a 2020 J.D. Power study.

Friends and family were the top sources of financial advice for all age groups, including Gen Z, and all income levels. More than half (53%) of Gen Zers got financial advice from friends and family, compared with 44% for millennials, 37% for Gen X, and 25% for baby boomers, perCreditCards.com. Through Wealthfront, UBS acquires a sizable customer base within the millennial and Gen Z demographic.

The news: Transactional cryptocurrency usage may be taking root in the US, which could benefit those with lower incomes or the unbanked, per a Federal Reserve Bank report. The Economic Wellbeing of US Households in 2021 report surveyed 11,874 participants of all ages, incomes, ethnicities, and educational levels. How is crypto used?

Increased food costs are also hitting certain demographics harder than others: On average, Hispanic, Latino, and African American households spend a larger share of their income—12.5%—on food than other ethnic groups, per data from Bank of America. With food prices 8% higher than they were in February 2021, lower-income shoppers will continue to turn to retailers that can provide the most value.

Green Dot’s Temenos cloud deal could enhance consumer ties: Features the partnership enables in Green Dot’s direct bank and its banking as a service (BaaS) business could strengthen its bonds with low- to-moderate-income consumers.