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Americans Lose $165 Billion to 'Annoyance Economy'

2/20/2026

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Story summary
  • The Groundwork Collaborative reports that Americans lose $165 billion annually to the "annoyance economy," due to customer-service wait times, junk fees, and healthcare hassles.
  • It notes that 80% of Americans face frustration with insurance paperwork and medical appointments, while AI increasingly creates obstacles to refunds and service.
  • The report urges regulators to impose fines based on the time consumers spend dealing with issues, making "annoyance" a liability for companies.