MoneyWatch

A little-heard-of pesticide linked to infertility in animals is showing up in the overwhelming majority of samples of oat-based foods sold in the United States, including popular cereal brands Quaker Oats and Cheerios. The chemical, chlormequat, was detected in 77 of 96 urine samples taken from 2017 and 2023, with levels increasing in the most recent years, a new study …

Gold has been used as an investmentand a form of currency for hundreds of years — and it offers a number of other unique benefits, too. So, it’s hardly surprising that many investors choose toadd gold to their investment portfolios. However, it’s typically best to purchase assets when prices are low and sell them when prices are high. And, it …

When it comes to preparing for retirement, it makes sense to focus on the basics, like maxing out your contributions to your 401(k) or ensuring that your savings are on track with your milestones. But what does not always come to mind is the need to diversify what you’re holding in your retirement portfolio — and overlooking that crucial element …

There’s no question that inflation has had a big impact on many people’s finances over the last few years. Higher inflation means your money can’t stretch as far due to higher prices at the pump, in the grocery store and just about anywhere else you shop. And, when you add in the other economic issues, like elevated borrowing costs, today’s …

Homebuyers waiting for mortgage rates to be reduced may have to wait a few more months. That seemed to be the message this week after the latest inflation reportfrom the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed inflation higher in January than expected. Although that 3.1% rate was lower than December’s 3.4%, it was still more than a full percentage point above …

For five years, a New York City man managed to live rent-free in a landmark Manhattan hotel by exploiting an obscure local housing law. But prosecutors this week said Mickey Barreto went too far when he filed paperwork claiming ownership of the entire New Yorker Hotel building — and tried to charge another tenant rent. On Wednesday, he was arrested …

There may be a reason so many hopeful singles on dating apps say they bank hours a day on the platforms swiping and scrolling without great results. Match Group-owned apps including Tinder and Hinge are designed to addict users and lock them “into a perpetual pay-to-play loop,” according to a proposed class-action lawsuit, filed in California district court on Wednesday …

When it comes to having food delivered, Americans are accustomed to offering a gratuity. But it’s a different story for people whose job is delivering people to their destination. Only some 28% of rideshare trips result in tips, according a recently released report by Gridwise Analytics, which operates an app that tracks earnings for 500,000 active rideshare and delivery drivers. …

2023 was not a great year for the mortgage market. Thanks to elevated inflation and the highest interest rates in decades meant to tame it, mortgage interest rates surged, hitting their highest point since 2000. And while they’ve dropped slightly since, they’re still exponentially higher than they were in 2020 and 2021, for example. The long-term forecastfor rate cuts and …

A top question on the minds of investors and consumers alike is when might the Federal Reserve make its first interest rate cut after two years of rapid hikes, which have sent mortgage and credit card rates soaring. But after Tuesday’s hotter-than-forecast inflation report, economists have a partial answer: Expect to wait longer. Even before Tuesday’s inflation data, the Federal …