Stashing cash finally pays off as savings interest rates rise from rock bottom in wake of Fed hikes

In this article GS There’s a silver lining to higher interest rates: Stashing some cash finally pays. Soaring inflation, which pushed the Federal Reserve into hiking its benchmark rate, is having an effect on the return savers stand to get on their money, at long last. While the Fed has no direct influence on deposit rates, they…

Worried about an economic downturn? Here’s what you can expect in a typical recession, according to economists

d3sign There has been a lot of chatter recently about the possibility of a recession. Yet what exactly does that mean — and what would a potential downturn look like? A recession is defined as “a significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and that lasts more than a few months,”…

How much money do gas tax holidays actually save drivers? What we know, based on 3 states that put temporary suspensions in place

President Joe Biden remarks on efforts to lower high gas prices at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. on June 22, 2022. Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images President Joe Biden has called on Congress to put a three-month federal gas tax holiday in place to help ease the financial pain drivers…

Proposed changes to retirement system get approval from Senate committee, setting stage for potential passage of ‘Secure 2.0’ this year

Samuel Corum/Bloomberg The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved a series of proposals that make full congressional passage of a retirement-improvement package more likely this year. Called the Enhancing American Retirement Now (EARN) Act, the measure contains some provisions that are the same or similar to those proposed in the House, which passed the…

Suze Orman: Series I bonds are the one investment every person should have right now

If there is one investment every person should have right now, it is a series I bond, according to personal finance expert Suze Orman. The bond’s variable interest rate is based on inflation, which means the asset currently has a high yield. The Consumer Price Index rose 8.6% in May, the highest rate since 1981….

With or without a federal gas tax holiday, here are 4 ways to save money at the pump

The recent run-up in gasoline prices is now being felt nearly across the board. The national average for a gallon of gas is currently $4.94 after topping $5 per gallon for the first time ever earlier this month, according to AAA. Last year at this time, the price was $3.07 per gallon. The increase has put a severe…

Millions of students never finish college. Here’s what loan forgiveness may mean for them

Beyond highlighting the sky-high cost of college, the pandemic has also shed light on the overwhelming burden of student loan debt. Average college tuition and fees edged higher again in the 2021-2022 academic year, reaching $10,740 for in-state students at four-year public schools, according to the College Board, which tracks trends in college pricing and student aid. Tuition and fees at four-year…

Average credit card interest rates have topped 20%. Here’s how to pay down that debt fast

Doucefleur Rising interest rates have pushed the annual percentage rates on credit cards to new highs. The average annual percentage rate on a new credit card is now more than 20%, according to LendingTree’s tracker. It’s the first time that rates have topped 20% since the tracker began in 2018. “When you factor in that…

Consumer watchdog eyes crackdown on credit card late fees as inflation threatens to increase them

Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, testifies during a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on April 26, 2022. Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau signaled a crackdown on late fees charged by credit card companies on Wednesday, as inflation threatens to…

Beyonce’s ‘Break My Soul’ is a sign the Great Resignation ‘has seeped into the zeitgeist,’ says labor economist

Beyoncé released a new single, “Break My Soul,” on Monday. The song references quitting a job and employee stress, alluding to the recent Great Resignation trend. Larry Busacca | PW18 | Getty Images The Great Resignation is part of the zeitgeist. If you need proof, just ask Beyoncé. The superstar singer’s new single, “Break My…

As Biden weighs a federal gas tax holiday, here’s what that could mean for prices at the pump

Fuel prices at a Chevron gas station in San Francisco June 9, 2022. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images For months, drivers across the U.S. face have faced eye-popping prices when they fill up their gas tanks. Now, President Joe Biden is weighing a new remedy — a federal gas tax holiday. A gallon of…

It’s a pension quandary: Rising interest rates make it trickier to choose between a lump sum or an annuity

Sdi Productions | E+ | Getty Images When you’re nearing retirement and are due a pension, one of the trickiest decisions can be whether to take your benefits as a lump sum or as an annuity over time. For those leaning toward an upfront payment, the choice may be more complicated now due to rising…