AMERICA’S $39 TRILLION DEBT HITS EVERYDAY FINANCES A Conference Board report warns that rising U.S. debt could increasingly squeeze families and businesses through higher borrowing costs. The debt now exceeds $39 trillion, or roughly $116,000 per American. Higher deficits could raise costs for student loans, mortgages and small-business financing, while also threatening retirement programs. Under current projections, Social Security’s main retirement trust fund could become insolvent by 2032, adding urgency for fiscal reforms.(*Walter Bloomberg)