Personal finance

Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images Both new and used car purchases were expensive for drivers this year, as limited inventory and high borrowing costs affected affordability. “Interest rates have taken such a toll on purchasing power,” said Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds. Yet, consumers might begin to see lower prices in 2024,

10’000 Hours | Digitalvision | Getty Images Consumers pumped record money into annuities in 2023, on the back of higher interest rates and anxiety about the stock market and U.S. economy, experts said. Americans have bought about $360 billion of annuities this year, according to an estimate by LIMRA, an insurance industry group. That would

Medianews Group | Getty Images The Powerball jackpot has soared to an estimated $572 million — and the big winner may wonder when is the best time to claim their prize. It’s the fourth Powerball jackpot to exceed $500 million in 2023, and there have been 29 consecutive drawings without a winner. The next Powerball

A shopper carries several bags in the Magnificent Mile shopping district of Chicago on Dec. 2, 2023. Taylor Glascock | Bloomberg | Getty Images The U.S. economy has remained remarkably strong but affordability is worse than it has ever been, some social media users say, even when compared to The Great Depression. One of TikTok’s

Demonstrators gather during a protest against the expiration of the eviction moratorium outside of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. Stefanie Reynolds | Bloomberg | Getty Images Renters burdened by unaffordable housing costs may be at a higher risk of dying sooner, according to a new study published in

Catherine Falls Commercial | Moment | Getty Images The page has almost turned on 2023 — and that means time is running out to make certain tax moves by year’s end, or else risk missing out on their benefits. Here are some tax strategies to consider before ringing in the new year, according to advisors

Klaus Vedfelt | Digitalvision | Getty Images As the new year approaches, building wealth is a top priority for “hardworking” middle-class Americans, according to a new survey from investing app Stash. Despite political and social issues, money was the No. 1 concern for most respondents, who were polled during the first two weeks in October

Drs Producoes | E+ | Getty Images Most employees sign up for the workplace health-care plan during open enrollment and then don’t think much about it afterward. But there are steps you can take at the start of the new year to get the most out of your coverage and to avoid surprising bills, experts

Bymuratdeniz | E+ | Getty Images In October, the pandemic-era pause on student loan payments expired, and the bills resumed for some 22 million people. Just 60% of those borrowers had made a payment by mid-November, new U.S. Department of Education data shows. In a recent blog post on the findings, U.S. Department of Education

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty Images While some recent reports have painted Generation Z as taking a relaxed “soft saving” approach to retirement, new research finds this generation is the most confident they’ll be able to retire. Gen Z women are especially optimistic.  Almost two-thirds, 65%, of Gen Z respondents are confident they’ll be

These days, fewer people feel financially comfortable, let alone rich. The average household’s net worth has soared in recent years, rising 37% between 2019 and 2022, according to the survey of consumer finances from the Federal Reserve. Yet, even as households became wealthier, inflation and instability have left more people in the bucket of so-called

Thomas Barwick | Stone | Getty Images The S&P 500 index has been a winner in 2023. The index on Wednesday closed above 4,700 for the first time since January 2022.  Year to date, the index is up about 23%. Its average annual return is more than 10%. That performance may now prompt some investors

Noel Hendrickson/Getty Images After a year full of record-high interest rates and home prices, experts say there are signs of improvement for the housing market in 2024. In December, the average mortgage rates dropped below 7% for the first time since August and after an 8% peak in October, which pushed housing costs to the

The Powerball jackpot hit $1.2 billion on Oct. 3, 2023, the third-biggest prize in the game’s history. Scott Olson | Getty The Powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $535 million — and with the year-end approaching, the winner may wonder whether it’s better to claim the prize in 2023 or 2024. There have already

Valentinrussanov | E+ | Getty Images Retirement balances for midcareer workers declined between 2019 and 2022, despite gains on financial assets such as stocks during that period, according to new research. However, the loss isn’t necessarily as bad as it may initially seem, financial experts said. Median combined 401(k) plans and individual retirement account balances

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on December 13, 2023 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images The stock market is having a holiday party. But financial advisors urge investors to use caution for before joining in. “Don’t fall prey to irrational exuberance,” said

Thomas Barwick | Stone | Getty Images Inflation has been falling gradually across the U.S. economy. This process, known as disinflation, means prices for consumer goods and services are rising but at a slower pace than they had been. However, inflation has actually turned negative in some sectors, like energy. Deflation, as this dynamic is

The Federal Reserve announced it will leave interest rates unchanged Wednesday, in a move that many believe will conclude the central bank’s rate hike cycle and set the stage for rate cuts in the year ahead. The Fed has raised interest rates 11 times since March 2022 — the fastest pace of tightening since the early 1980s. The

Rockaa | E+ | Getty Images Women control only about one-third of all financial assets in the U.S., but that is about to change. As part of the great wealth transfer, women are expected to inherit much of the $68 trillion in wealth that baby boomers are passing down, according to research by McKinsey. Whether

Fizkes | Istock | Getty Images There’s one piece of good news for student loan borrowers bummed out by the resumption of their bills this fall: They may be eligible for a break on their 2023 taxes. The student loan interest deduction allows qualifying borrowers to deduct up to $2,500 a year in interest paid