MoneyWatch

Over the last few years, the interest rate environment has shifted dramatically, making borrowing money much more expensive across the board. After keeping rates at rock-bottom levels during the pandemic to stimulate the economy, the Federal Reserve aggressively raised its benchmark federal funds rate over the last couple of years in an effort to rein in persistently high inflation. And, …

It’s never a bad time to re-evaluate your financial health and investment strategy. This is particularly true in today’s unique economic climate with strongjob growth, elevated inflation and the highest interest rates in decades. Against this backdrop, some investments may be more beneficial than others. For many, recent economic developments have underlined the advantage of investing in gold. Thanks to …

Today’s interest rate environment can be a big challenge for borrowers. After all, the same mortgage loans that had sub-3% interest rates in 2021 and 2022 now have rates that are over two times higher. And, other types of lending products, like credit cards and personal loans, both carry higher rates than they did in recent years. Considering that all …

In today’s inflationary environment, it can be difficult to decide where you’ll store your savings. No matter where you choose to do so, it’s important that your money earns a return that’s equal to inflation or higher. Your savings will lose buying power if your returns are any lower than the current inflation rate (3.5%). Two options to consider that …

Inflation remains as stubborn as ever and continues to prop up interest rates. The Federal Reserve aggressively raised interest rates 11 times in 2022 and 2023 in an effort to curb inflation. More recently, the Fed has paused interest rate changes at its last five meetings as inflation has slowly ticked up in 2024. The resulting elevated interest rates have …

On Thursday, Venice, Italy became the first city in the world to charge day tourists a feejust to visit its historic canals and other attractions on peak days. The measure is designed to counter over-tourism and mitigate the deleterious impact large crowds can have on some of the city’s fragile sites, while also persuading some tourists to visit during less …

TikTok could be under new ownership at this time next year, after President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed a bill that gives the social media company about 12 months to either divest from its Chinese owner or face a U.S. ban. TikTok is vowing to fight the new law in the courts, with CEO Shou Chewsaying in a video posted …

Southwest Airlines is suspending service at some airports across the U.S. as it slows its growth, in part because of Boeing aircraft delivery delays. The airline is set to receive just 20 of the 46 Boeing 737 Max 8 planes it was expecting in 2024, Southwest said Thursday. The delays mean slower growth for the airline, which is looking for …

Well-heeled home shoppers are increasingly paying cash, helping turbocharge price gains for the most expensive U.S. homes. The median sale price of luxury homes — valued in the top 5% of the market nationally — hit an all-time high $1.23 million in the first quarter, an increase of 8.7% from the same period last year, according to an analysis by …

Internet service providers can no longer fiddle with how quickly — or not — customers are able to browse the web or download files, the Federal Communications Commission ruled Thursday. The 3-2 vote to adopt net neutrality regulations, which block wireless companies from selectively speeding up, slowing down or blocking users’ internet traffic, restores a policy that was discarded during …