Author: Money Mechanics

Well, it seems like it’s been a while since the last CPI update! Thanks to the government shutdown, it has been since this data is a week and a half later than it was scheduled to be. The importance of the CPI release is obvious, but it was reinforced by the fact it’s the only one the government is calling people back to release. It isn’t that we don’t have reasonably-accurate alternative ways to measure price pressures, though – it’s because unlike Payrolls and most other government releases that are important touchpoints for economists, the CPI is an important legal…

An ‘Open House’ sign is posted near a single family home for sale on Aug. 22, 2025 in Pasadena, California. Mario Tama | Getty ImagesSales of previously owned homes rose 1.5% in September from August to a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of 4.06 million units, according to the National Association of Realtors. That is slightly less than the analysts were forecasting, but the highest pace in seven months.Sales were 4.1% higher compared with September of last year.Regionally, on an annual basis, sales were strongest in the South and Northeast. From August, sales were strongest in the West and actually fell…

Key Takeaways Ford shares surged Friday after the automaker posted quarterly earnings that topped analysts’ estimates. However, Ford cut its outlook, citing the impacts of a fire at an aluminum supplier. Investors were so impressed by Ford Motor’s third-quarter results that they overlooked a guidance cut. Ford (F) shares soared over 10% to pace the S&P 500 in recent trading after the “Big Three” automaker reported adjusted earnings of $0.45 per share on revenue that surged 9% year-over-year to $50.53 billion. Analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha had expected $0.34 and $46.33 billion, respectively. However, Ford said it expects a full-year “adjusted EBIT headwind of $1.5…

Key Takeaways The White House said October’s inflation report is unlikely to be released.The ongoing government shutdown has closed the government’s statistical agencies, leaving critical economic data unreported. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is likely to skip a month of data collection for the Consumer Price Index for the first time in its history because of the ongoing government shutdown.The Consumer Price Index, a widely watched gauge of inflation, is unlikely to be released for October, the White House said on Friday. The CPI is based on prices collected by an army of surveyors, who are currently on furlough and…

Key Takeaways Intel shares hit their highest level in 18 months Friday morning after the chipmaker swung to a profit that sailed past Wall Street expectations, signaling its closely watched turnaround plan is gaining traction.Intel shares have consolidated in a rectangle formation throughout most of October, setting the stage for a continuation of the stock’s recent uptrend.The measured move technique projects a near-term bullish target of $49. Investors should also watch important support levels on Intel’s chart around $36, $32 and $29. Intel (INTC) shares rose Friday morning after the chipmaker swung to a profit that sailed past Wall Street…

Key Takeaways Alaska Air Group reported an IT outage that caused a ground stop of its flights and those of Horizon Air for several hours.It was the second ground stop caused by an IT problem at the airline in three months. Shares of Alaska Air Group (ALK) flew lower Friday after the airline turned in quarterly profits that were less than expected and reported an IT outage that forced a system-wide ground stop of all flights of its namesake carrier and Horizon Air. The company said the IT issues began at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) yesterday, and announced…

Key Takeaways Retirees will see their Social Security benefits rise by 2.8% in 2026, adding about $56 per month to the average benefit. Experts suggest maintaining some equity exposure to help retirees’ portfolios keep pace with inflation better. Rising Medicare Part B premiums—projected to increase more than 11% to $206—could offset some of the boost provided by COLA. The numbers are in: Retirees who receive Social Security benefits will see their monthly checks increase 2.8% come January 2026. The Social Security Administration just released the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which is meant to reduce the impact that inflation has on Social…

If you’re a high-net-worth investor sitting on significant unrealized capital gains, September 30, 2025, may prove to be one of the most important dates you didn’t know about.That’s when the IRS and Treasury Department issued Notice 2025-50, providing the first concrete guidance on the permanent opportunity zone program signed into law in July as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.The headlines tell only part of the story. Yes, the opportunity zone program is now permanent. Yes, there’s a new emphasis on rural investment. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK…

Roth conversions, if done right, can lower your tax bill over your lifetime. But be careful. Roth conversions pose traps, and the unwary can easily get caught. Here are eight factors to consider in deciding whether to convert all or part of a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.1. Present and future tax ratesA Roth conversion is a taxable event in the year of the switch. So, if you expect that the income tax rate you will pay in retirement will be equal to or higher than the rate on conversion, then switching to a Roth IRA can pay off…

It’s been another busy week on the financial front with Kiplinger covering Netflix’s stock slump, estate taxes and Dave Ramsey’s words of wisdom on retirement dos and don’ts, among other stories. But how much do you remember about the week’s financial and business news? Our editors have put together a quiz to test your knowledge… (And if you slip up on an answer or two, you can follow the links below the quiz to refresh your memory.)Test yourself with last week’s quiz, or dig into our quiz archive and play more of our retirement, tax or investing-themed quizzes.Read more on…