The market continues to price in the possibility of a rate cut in 2025, which could be a big mistake. Despite inflation falling from COVID highs, it remains hot and uncooperative. Even if data for January and February are weaker than expected, the inflation trend remains flat, not downward, and does not correspond to the … Read more
Nonfarm payrolls data came in hotter than expected, bolstered by other labor market indicators that suggest the FOMC won’t cut interest rates this year. The overall figure was more than double what was expected; unemployment fell to 4.1% and wages rose about 4%. Rising employment and wages signal that one Fed mandate has been met, … Read more
After sharply raising rates to fight inflation, the Federal Reserve is signaling it will cut rates at a more measured pace. After a larger-than-usual 0.5 percentage point cut in September, the central bank’s rate-setting committee last week cut the benchmark rate by a further 0.25 percentage point. The Federal Reserve’s benchmark federal funds rate affects … Read more
Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump made sure to talk about taxes in the final days before the presidential election. That’s no coincidence: More than 144 million taxpayers filed personal income tax returns this year, a topic likely on the minds of countless voters. While Congress controls the purse strings, candidates’ policy priorities drive the … Read more
It’s all but certain that the next move Americans see from the Federal Reserve will be a second interest rate cut. The real question is whether officials will “go big” again with another half-percentage-point reduction. The next rate decision won’t be announced until Nov. 7, but discussions are already very active about how much the … Read more
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates Wednesday for the first time since 2020 as it switched gears from battling high inflation to keeping the labor market healthy. The half-percentage-point cut was unusually large for the central bank — it tends to move rates up or down by a quarter-percentage point — but not entirely unexpected. … Read more
We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. Learn more. The wait is finally over. For the first time since March 2020, the Federal Reserve has cut short-term interest rates. On Wednesday, Fed Chairman Jerome … Read more
The Federal Reserve is expected to decrease interest rates for the first time since 2020 in September, setting off a chain reaction that will indirectly influence several parts of the U.S. economy — including your wallet. In recent years, the Fed ratcheted up interest rates (and then held them steady) in order to curb excessive … Read more
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to bring about a long-awaited interest rate cut during its next meeting. But just how big will that potential rate cut be? The central bank held interest rates steady in July — a move that was expected and kept rates at the 5.25% to 5.5% range. But Fed Chair … Read more
We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. Learn more. Raising the retirement age for Social Security even by just a year or two would result in significant reductions in payments for most Americans, a … Read more