MoneyWatch

In today’s economic landscape, many people are looking for alternative investment strategies to help safeguard their retirement funds. And, that makes sense. All it takes is a sudden downturn in the stock market or an unexpected economic shift to have a big impact on your retirement savings — and if you aren’t careful, you could end up losing a lot …

The inflation report for January is official and the verdict isn’t great. While inflation was lower in January than it was in December, it was still at 3.1% year over year — above many predictions of 2.9% and more than a point above the Federal Reserve’s target goal of 2%. That means borrowers will likely need to wait a bit …

Those who were hoping for an end to inflation — and high interest rates — may have to wait a bit longer. That was the sentiment early Tuesday after the latest inflation report showed inflation rising 3.1% year over year. While that January rise was lower than December’s 3.4%, it was still a move in the wrong direction, strongly indicating …

The most recent inflation data shows that in January prices rose 3.1% year over year. That’s a significant improvement from when inflation spiked to over 9% in 2022, though it’s still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Amidst this backdrop, many real estate experts predict that mortgage rates will drop somewhat this year from their current levels in the mid-6s …

Three separate unions representing flight attendants at major U.S. airlines are picketing and holding rallies at 30 airports on Tuesday as they push for new contracts and higher wages. The flight attendants are increasingly frustrated that pilots won huge pay raises last year while they continue to work for wages that, in some cases, have not increased in several years. …

Actors at Disneyland who perform as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, as well as other costumed characters at the California theme park, said Tuesday they are moving to form a union. Calling themselves “Magic United,” the cast members seeking to organize announced they are working with Actors’ Equity Association, a union representing 51,000 theater actors and stage managers across the U.S. …

Los Angeles — Tiger Woods’ Sunday red is no longer just a shirt. It’s a brand. Woods is starting a new year with a new look, announcing Monday evening an extended partnership with TaylorMade Golf to launch a lifestyle brand that will be called Sun Day Red. The change followed Woods and Nike ending a 27-year relationship, which dated to …

Former “Monty Python” star Eric Idle said he’s still working at the age of 80 for financial reasons, sharing on social media that his income has tailed off “disastrously” and adding, “I have to work for my living.” Idle, who also starred in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and created the hit Broadway show “Spamalot,” said that people tend …

Columbus, Ohio — A federal judge extended a block on enforcement Monday of an Ohio law that would require children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps, as a legal challenge proceeds. U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley’s decision to grant a preliminary injunction prevents the law from taking effect while a lawsuit filed earlier this …

Inflation may be rapidly cooling, but there’s one area that continues to eat away at Americans’ budgets: Stubbornly high food prices. Rising food costs were one contributor to the hotter-than-expected inflation report on Tuesday, with food prices rising 0.4% in January from December, a faster pace than the overall 0.3% rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI, a …