Personal finance

Cabania | iStock | Getty Images Plus With tax season underway, the IRS expects more than 140 million returns from individuals through the April 15 deadline — and many early filers are already waiting for a refund. With taxpayers eager for updates, many have asked “where’s my refund?” online this week, according to Google Trends

A person walks past the New York Stock Exchange at Wall Street in New York on Feb. 3, 2025. Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images A “torrid two-year stretch” prompted the S&P 500 to gain around 70%, but that momentum is stalling, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management said in its investment strategy research this week.

QINGDAO, CHINA – NOVEMBER 8, 2023 – Container ships frequently enter and exit the Qianwan Container Terminal of Qingdao Port in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China, Nov 8, 2023. (Photo by Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images A trade war is brewing — and, if history is any guide, the U.S. economy

Many consumers are rightfully concerned about escalating trade tensions. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he would impose 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, and 10% tariffs on goods imported from China. He also signaled that tariffs on the European Union could be next.  While Trump has agreed to halt the implementation of tariffs against Canada for at least 30 days

An American flag and a U.S. Department of Education flag fly outside the US Department of Education building in Washington, D.C., U.S., Feb. 1, 2025.  Annabelle Gordon | Reuters With the Trump administration looking for ways to close parts or all of the U.S. Department of Education, many of the country’s 42 million federal student

Vesnaandjic | E+ | Getty Images The cost to rent is coming down faster in some areas of the U.S. than others.  Overall, rent affordability is improving thanks to a combination of factors, said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin. One is, there’s more supply. “There are more apartments for rent now because there was

A truck drives on its way to enter the United States at a border crossing at the Canada-U.S. border in Blackpool, Quebec, Canada, on Feb. 2, 2025. Andrej Ivanov | Afp | Getty Images Tariffs set to take effect Tuesday may mean consumers won’t get a reprieve from high borrowing costs this year, according to

Trump administration tariffs set to begin on February 4th would affect prices and the availability of some products at grocery stores.  Nick Lachance | Toronto Star | Getty Images President Donald Trump’s new executive order issuing tariffs on goods entering the U.S. from Canada, China and Mexico sent markets falling early Monday. By midday, the

Milan2099 | E+ | Getty Images This tax season, the IRS expects more than 140 million individual returns — and many filers could miss a credit worth thousands of dollars.  The earned income tax credit, or EITC, is a tax break for low- to moderate-income workers. In 2023, eligible taxpayers received an average credit of

Remains of Karen Bagnard’s Altadena, California, house after it burned in the January 2025 Los Angeles-area wildfires. Courtesy: Chelsea On the night of Jan. 7, Karen Bagnard sat in her Altadena, California, house in the dark. Forceful winds had caused her home to lose power, and she also had no running water, save for one

From Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter to Kendrick Lamar and SZA, 2025 promises to be another big year for live music events. That may also mean concertgoers will be shelling out more for their favorite shows. After rising steadily post-pandemic, admission to movies, theaters and concerts jumped 20% since 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor

Klaus Vedfelt | Digitalvision | Getty Images Looking for travel inspiration for 2025 and beyond? Look no further: CNBC asked 10 travel agents for their recommendations of the most underhyped destinations in the world. We compiled their written answers below, including can’t-miss activities for each locale and the best times of year to visit. You’ll

Vgajic | E+ | Getty Images If you’re a renter, the market may be shifting in your favor. As of December, the median asking rent price in the U.S. was $1,695, down 0.5% — or $8 — from November, according to a new report by Realtor.com. The latest rent price is 1.1% lower — or

A customer walks by a display of fresh eggs at a grocery store on Sept. 25, 2024 in San Anselmo, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images The first Social Security benefit checks for 2025 include a 2.5% increase — the lowest annual cost-of-living adjustment since 2021. For retirees, that amounts to an increase of about

President Donald Trump on Jan. 27, 2025 in Doral, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images President Donald Trump has repeatedly discussed imposing tariffs, both on the campaign trail and since taking office — and the first tranche, on goods from Canada, China and Mexico will take effect Feb. 1, the White

Catherine Ivill – Ama | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images Many taxpayers are eager to file returns quickly to collect a refund, but it’s important to gather the necessary tax forms first, experts say. Every year, employers and financial companies report income and other activity on so-called information returns, such as W-2s and 1099s,

Getty Images Millions of families claim the child tax credit every year — and filing mistakes can delay the processing of your return and receipt of your refund, according to tax experts.  For 2024 returns, the child tax credit is worth up to $2,000 per kid under age 17, and decreases once adjusted gross income

Morehouse College President David Thomas speaks during Morehouse College’s graduation ceremony, before US President Joe Biden delivers his commencement address, in Atlanta, Georgia on May 19, 2024.  Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | Afp | Getty Images David Thomas, the president of Morehouse College, said his office fielded a surge of calls this week from worried students and

The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday it will leave interest rates unchanged as inflation continues to run above the Fed’s 2% mandate. The move comes after the central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by a full percentage point last year and in the wake of President Donald Trump‘s comment during his first week back in office that he’ll

Rainstar | E+ | Getty Images People who use a credit card to cover an emergency expense are solving only part of the problem. Why? Because while using a credit card for emergencies can be helpful in the short term, carrying a balance can lead to significant interest charges if not paid off quickly.  About