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What 2026 means for money and markets

From shifting macro economic trends to smarter ways to pay, here are the key changes poised to define 2026.

Economic Outlook 2026 6 payment trends for 2026
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PERSPECTIVES

Latest stories

Features, Q&As, videos and thought leadership about people and tech from around the world

Cybersecurity

Broken promise, part two: The aftermath of romance scams

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Our People

Building financial sustainability — and creating beauty — in a São Paulo favela

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Rita Krejici paints tires stacked as a retaining wall .

Inclusion

‘Doing good by default’: How this vision of consumer protection can build resilience

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Holiday

Beyond the big tree: Holiday markets showcase the softer side of New York City

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David Tzaczuk & Zion Forest-Lee at the Pook stall at Bryant Park

Innovation

Six payments trends for 2026

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A woman lays on a dock in a running gear holding her phone as the sun rises.

Holiday

Holiday spending 2025: Tech and trust are driving Black Friday, Cyber Monday growth

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A woman sits on a couch looking at her phone in front of a decorated Christmas tree.

Commerce

Dodging crowds and dining well: Shopping paradise in an increasingly packed Tokyo

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Tunnel made of Shinto torii gates in the Mandarake Henya store specialize in retro items related to Japanese manga and anime in the Nakano Broadway shopping distrct.

Holiday

All U.S. travelers want this holiday … is a European vacation

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A skier in Switzerland near on the Matterhorn.

Cybersecurity

Broken promises, part one: The rise of romance scams

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FEATURED VIDEO

Anatomy of a scam

Behind every scam is a story – and inside every story is a lesson. Mastercard’s “Anatomy of a Scam” documentary series explores how scams work and who’s behind them. The third episode, "The billion-dollar illusion" looks inside one of the fastest-growing frauds: investment scams, which promise riches but whose returns prove hollow. 

EXPLAINERS

A deeper dive into today's big ideas

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Holiday

Beyond the big tree: Holiday markets showcase the softer side of New York City

In NYC, holiday markets are empowering small businesses, luring holiday shoppers with a more intimate, cozy shopping experience.
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David Tzaczuk & Zion Forest-Lee at the Pook stall at Bryant Park

Holiday spending 2025: Tech and trust are driving Black Friday, Cyber Monday growth

Dive into Mastercard’s SpendingPulse insights into spending on the biggest shopping days of the year. 

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A woman sits on a couch looking at her phone in front of a decorated Christmas tree.

All U.S. travelers want this holiday … is a European vacation

Discover 2025 holiday travel trends and how evolving traveler priorities are shaping European destinations and global travel patterns.
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A skier in Switzerland near on the Matterhorn.

New gadgets, same holiday glow

Modern tech has changed the way we shop, celebrate and decorate for the holidays — yet the glow, connection and spirit stay the same.

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Chris Mullen as a child in the 1990s in front of a christmas tree holding a toy.

What are holiday shoppers putting on their lists? Earlier starts and smarter carts

A Mastercard survey on consumer spending trends shaping the 2025 holidays reveals smarter, tech-driven and more rewarding shopping journeys.

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A woman dressed in a winter hat and scarf walks beneath arches covered with holiday lights while she carries shopping bags.

Keep scammers out of your stockings this holiday season

Nearly half of shoppers would ignore red flags for a deep discount or perfect gift, a new survey shows. Here's how to protect yourself. 

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A woman in a Santa hat and a young girl in an antler headband look at a laptop while the woman holds a credit card.

Regional newsrooms

Access the latest news from around the globe

FEATURED TOPIC

Transportation

Tapping into London's Superloop

In this video, TV presenter, athlete and disability advocate Ade Adepitan explores the new express bus network and speaks to small business owners along the lines. 

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Ade Adepitan on a Superloop bus

Car as mobile wallet? The technology is gaining speed

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A car speeds beneath a toll gantry equipped with cameras on a highway.

What's putting the automotive economy in the fast lane

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A woman looks at her smartphone while her car is EV charging.

These two startups are simplifying urban mobility

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Young woman paying bus fare with contactless payment on public transport

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