Author: Money Mechanics

While many sectors within U.S. public finance are expected to maintain stable credit quality heading into 2025, emerging credit pressures could begin to impact performance and key rating metrics in the near term. Much of this uncertainty stems from potential shifts in federal policy under the new administration, which will play a critical role in shaping the fiscal sustainability of state and local governments, particularly those that rely on federal grants to support large-scale or megaprojects. Additionally, the broader macroeconomic environment, including the Federal Reserve’s evolving stance on interest rates, will significantly influence inflation trends and borrowing costs. With uncertainty…

Steven Chechette (C) speaks with a recruiter at the KeySource booth at the Mega JobNewsUSA South Florida Job Fair held in the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, on April 30, 2025.Joe Raedle | Getty ImagesU.S. private-sector hiring rose less than expected in August, data released Thursday shows, offering the latest indication of trouble in the labor market.Private payrolls increased by just 54,000 in August, according to data from processing firm ADP published Thursday morning. That’s below the consensus forecast of 75,000 from economists polled by Dow Jones, and marks a significant slowdown from the revised gain of 106,000 seen…

InDrive, known for its bidding-based ride-hailing model across Asia and Latin America, is rolling out a “super-app” strategy aimed at frontier markets — expanding beyond cabs to deliver daily essentials to its users. Beginning with grocery deliveries in Kazakhstan, InDrive plans to expand into multiple verticals over the next 12 months across its top markets, including Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Pakistan, Peru, and Mexico. The shift comes on the heels of more than 360 million app downloads and 6.5 billion transactions globally, cementing its position as the world’s second most-downloaded ride-hailing app, behind Uber, since 2022. “If customers use you more…

Key Takeaways Young Americans aging off of their parents’ health plans at 26 face an increasingly tough choice: Pay a high price or go without coverage. Many are opting for the latter. Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions designed to lower the uninsured rate among young adults have limitations—and face new challenges. GOP-led legislation is making it harder to qualify for Medicaid or ACA subsidies, pricing young adults out of a seemingly inaccessible market.  Even those who want to buy a health plan struggle to navigate both new and old enrollment processes and requirements.  Young adults who don’t have employer-sponsored benefits…

In 2011, we brought on a client on the verge of retirement. Six months into retirement, her husband died of brain cancer.While the wife had what most people would consider to be an estate plan in place, the financial nightmare that followed the human tragedy totally changed how I prioritize these conversations.If your spouse is sick, these things may understandably be the furthest from your mind, but I view them as non-negotiables. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit and prosper with…

The United States has experienced a significant wave of job losses. As of May, at least 12% of the 2.4 million civilian federal workforce have been affected.Overall, more than 260,000 federal employees have either left or are slated to leave since the shift began.Meanwhile, in the private sector, tech companies alone shed almost 75,000 jobs by the end of May, according to a report by Challenger, Gray & Christmas — driven by cost-cutting amid ongoing economic uncertainty. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the House & Home myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.Earlier this year, soon after leaving university and planning a move to London for a four-month internship — too brief to take a full year’s lease — I was on the hunt for a room to rent. My Facebook and SpareRoom searches had been underwhelming at best: a living room-turned-bedroom that flatmates crossed to access the kitchen, a live-in landlord who required meals cooked for him on weekends and a FaceTime viewing with a landlady who kept tripping over her eight…

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a big change to the program starting Sept. 30, 2025 — but don’t worry, it’s not a cut to benefits. Instead, that’s the day that the SSA will stop issuing paper checks. This shift to completely digital payments isn’t meant to inconvenience beneficiaries; rather, it’s a huge cost-saving move on the part of the government. Discover More: 3 Little-Known Social Security Rules That Could Save You Thousands Check Out: 6 Hybrid Vehicles To Stay Away From in Retirement Regardless of the reasoning behind it, you’ll need to prepare for it. Here’s what you’ll need…

Last month, “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary warned about the expensive daily coffee habits draining wealth, even as experts say the ritual carries meaning beyond caffeine.O’Leary Calls Coffee A ‘Big Money Waste’O’Leary shared a video on YouTube of a man proudly declaring that he refuses to buy overpriced Starbucks drinks. Instead, the man makes coffee at home for just 20 cents a cup.”I love this guy. This is exactly what I’m talking about,” O’Leary said in response. “He’s very, very conscious of not wasting a single cent. Nothing wrong with that. That’s very smart. Coffee is a big money waste.”See…

Rates markets are starting to act unmoored, with long end Treasury and gilt yields rising. I am not in any position to offer an insider’s view of what is happening now, but I will just offer my impressions based on historical experience.At the time of writing, China retaliated to the 104% American tariffs with a 84% tariff, and the EU is heading for a vote on their retaliation. At the same time, the White House administration is digging in and showing no visible interest in finding an off ramp. The American-Chinese tariffs have moved into the range where we are…