The financial news that actually matters
American grocery shoppers face another year of rising prices at the checkout counter. The USDA Economic Research Service projects food-at-home prices will climb 3.2% in 2026, with beef expected to jump 5.5% and nonalcoholic beverages forecast to rise 5.2%, driven largely by surging global coffee costs. Those increases land on top of already elevated food…
Fans hoping to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup are finding that patience on the secondary market may pay off. According to Gametime marketplace data reported by Yahoo Sports, just over half of group-stage matches have seen resale ticket prices drop by 20% or more, with some seats available for roughly $157, fees included. The…
Borrowers hoping for cheaper money in 2026 face a blunt reality: Federal Reserve policymakers signaled in their latest projections that interest rates are unlikely to fall this year, and traders have largely stopped betting otherwise. The Summary of Economic Projections released on March 18, 2026, showed a median federal funds rate path that leaves little…
American drivers saw a break from record-high fuel costs as retail gasoline prices dropped from their wartime peak of $4.55 a gallon in May to $4.24 a gallon, a decline that tracked crude oil sliding below $100 a barrel. The pullback offered relief to household budgets stretched thin by months of rising energy costs tied…
Workers born in 1943 or later who postpone claiming Social Security past full retirement age collect an extra 8.0% per year, or 2/3 of 1% per month, on every check they receive for life. That credit stops growing at age 70, creating a narrow window that can raise a monthly benefit by as much as…
Self-employed workers, freelancers, and gig earners face a hard deadline on June 15 for their second-quarter estimated tax payment, covering income earned from April 1 through May 31. Anyone who underpays or skips the installment will owe IRS interest at a 6% annual rate that accrues daily on the shortfall until the balance is cleared….
Fake text messages claiming drivers owe unpaid tolls helped push reports of government-imposter scams up 40 percent in 2025, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The texts spoof familiar programs like E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, and TxTag, threatening late fees or suspended registrations to pressure recipients into tapping a malicious link. With losses from cash payments…
Homebuyers entering the spring 2026 market are finding more options on the shelf and more sellers willing to negotiate on price. Active listings of homes for sale have now risen for a 30th consecutive month, extending the longest streak of inventory growth since the post-pandemic freeze began to thaw. At the same time, a growing…
Medicare beneficiaries already paying $202.90 a month for Part B coverage in 2026 face another increase next year. The standard monthly premium is projected to hit $218.60 in 2027, a jump of roughly $15.70, according to intermediate estimates published in the 2025 Medicare Trustees Report. The annual Part B deductible is also expected to rise,…
Federal student loan borrowers enrolled in the SAVE repayment plan face a hard deadline that is now less than three weeks away. Starting July 1, 2026, loan servicers will begin sending notices that instruct these borrowers to leave the plan and choose a different, legally authorized repayment option. Anyone who receives a notice will have…