Personal finance

Consumers shop in Rosemead, California, on Dec. 12, 2023. Frederic J. Brown | Afp | Getty Images The annual inflation rate edged higher in December following two months of declines. However, that reversal likely isn’t cause for concern — and may be somewhat misleading, economists said. “We’re still making progress in the inflation fight,” said

Xavier Lorenzo | Moment | Getty Images One of the major benefits of the Biden administration’s new student loan repayment plan is that it cancels the debt for certain borrowers — those who took out $12,000 or less — after a decade in repayment. Under the old plans, loan forgiveness didn’t come until 20 years

Ryanjlane | E+ | Getty Images People often start the year by revisiting their budgets with a resolution to save money and cut back on discretionary spending. Yet, experts say hobbies shouldn’t be the first category to go. Americans on average spent $3,458 on entertainment in 2022, according to the most recent Consumer Expenditures report

Jackyenjoyphotography | Moment | Getty Images The start of 2024 has not been kind to workers in industries that opened the year with layoffs. Google has cut several hundred jobs in its central engineering, hardware and assistant teams. Amazon is shedding hundreds of positions across its Prime Video, MGM Studios, Twitch livestreaming and Audible divisions.

A worker stocks eggs on a shelf at a grocery store in Detroit, Michigan, on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. Matthew Hatcher | Bloomberg | Getty Images As inflation continues to throttle back across the broad U.S. economy, some consumer categories have sunk into outright deflation. In other words: Americans are seeing prices decline for certain

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images The fourth quarter estimated tax deadline is Jan. 16, and you could have a surprise bill or owe a penalty if you don’t send a payment, according to the IRS. While many employers withhold levies from every paycheck, other income — such as freelancing, small business or investment earnings

US President Joe Biden speaks at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, on January 5, 2024. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images The Biden administration announced on Friday it would soon begin forgiving the student loans of borrowers who have been in repayment for a decade or more and originally took out

In this article BTC.CM= Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Recep-bg | E+ | Getty Images The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday approved the first U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds. But experts urge caution before piling into the long-awaited ETFs. The agency signed off on 11 bitcoin ETF applications, including funds from BlackRock,

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former biotech executive Vivek Ramaswamy pose together onstage at the third Republican candidates’ U.S. presidential debate of the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida, U.S., November 8, 2023.  Mike Segar

Consumer spending remained remarkably resilient throughout 2023, even in the face of prolonged inflation and high interest rates. But that’s unlikely to continue, according to Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist at the National Retail Federation. “A year ago, many commentators were skeptical and calling for a recession, but the recession never came. With each passing month,

Mihtiander | Getty Images People age 50 and older are nearing the final stretch when it comes to planning for retirement. Yet, 62% of those in that age cohort have not consulted a professional to help plan for their golden years, according to a recent survey from AARP. The top answer for why, with 41%,

Erin Collins, national taxpayer advocate at the Taxpayer Advocate Service, speaks at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 2021. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images After a few difficult years, the IRS has boosted taxpayer service and technology with an infusion of funding. But there’s still room for improvement —

A customer visits a supermarket in San Mateo, California, on Dec. 12, 2023. Li Jianguo | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images Inflation is retreating from its pandemic-era highs. Economic jargon yields two similar terms — “deflation” and “disinflation” — that might describe this pullback. So, which is the U.S. experiencing? In short: Disinflation. What

Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani attends a press conference on his presentation after signing a 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on Dec. 14, 2023. Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images Roughly a month after Shohei Ohtani signed a $700 million contract with Major League

For many families, financial aid is crucial when it comes to affording college. But students must first fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to access any assistance, including student loans, work study and grants. And this year, a new FAFSA form has been plagued by problems. “It does seem consistent with a process that was rushed

IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on April 19, 2023. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images The tax season officially kicks off Jan. 29, which marks the first day the IRS will accept and process 2023 tax returns, the IRS announced Monday. Most taxpayers must file federal returns and pay balances by

The United States Capitol building is seen in Washington D.C., United States on October 4 , 2023.  Yasin Ozturk | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Congress took a step toward avoiding a looming government shutdown when it reached an agreement Sunday on top-line spending. Even if lawmakers fail to finalize an agreement by the necessary

Americans are increasingly leaning on their credit cards. Altogether, card balances now total $1.08 trillion, according to the latest quarterly report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, a new record. “Over the past two years, Americans’ credit card balances have skyrocketed 40%,” said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate. “While Americans are managing

Some types of debt can haunt you. “Buy now, pay later” loans, especially, can be hard to track, making it easier for more consumers to get in over their heads, some experts say — even more than credit cards, which are simpler to account for, despite sky-high interest rates. Over the holidays, the use of installment

South_agency | E+ | Getty Images Many people have a 401(k) plan and other retirement savings that may provide funds after they stop working, but there’s no denying it: The Social Security benefit is an important part of the retirement income stream as people enter the next chapter of their lives. However, there is much