Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways U.S. employers had 7.2 million job openings in July, the most recent data in the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. That’s down from 7.4 million in June and the lowest since September 2024.Tariffs and high interest rates have stifled job creation, although employers have avoided mass layoffs so far.The report on job openings added detail to a government report from July showing the hiring market has slowed down significantly in recent months. Employers had fewer open jobs in July than forecasters expected, adding to evidence that the job market is stumbling amid tariffs and high interest rates.The…

Understanding how the average Social Security check amount changes at the different milestone claiming ages — 62, 65, 66, 67 and 70 — is key to retirement planning. These figures highlight the significant impact that the claiming age has on your monthly income and overall financial security in retirement.To quote the rocker, Joan Jett, “Nobody knows what anticipation is anymore. Everything is so immediate.” Social Security, however, is the exception to that adage.In simple terms, you can get a bigger Social Security check for the rest of your life for every month you wait to claim your benefits after your…

Key Takeaways The traditional two-hour rule for arriving early for flights is not a universally good one if you’re looking to cut down on your wait times. The time you should arrive at the airport depends on the number of flights to the same destination, the cost of rebooking penalties, and how much you value your personal time. On routes with frequent departures, your wait time will still average out to half the gap between flights, no matter how carefully you plan. A new National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) study shows that the conventional wisdom about when to arrive…

Facing a global trade landscape marked by economic uncertainty, Dollar Tree Inc.‘s DLTR leadership has identified escalating tariffs as a primary operational hurdle, implementing a multi-pronged strategy to protect its margins while preserving its low-price reputation.Check out DLTR’s stock price here.Tariff Headwinds Impact Trade EnvironmentIn a recent earnings call, CEO Mike Creeden labeled the current trade environment as a significant headwind for the business.“Tariffs remain a source of ongoing volatility, and operating in an environment where rates change frequently remains one of our largest challenges,” Creeden told analysts on the second quarter earnings call. The company noted that while tariffs…

A “Now Hiring” sign at a Journeys store in the Brooklyn borough of New York on June 3, 2025.Adam Gray | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesJob openings ticked down in July to levels rarely seen since the Covid-19 pandemic, bolstering fears of cooling in the labor market.The Job Openings and Labor Turnover report showed around 7.18 million listings in July, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Wednesday. That’s only the second reading under the 7.2 million level since the end of 2020.Wednesday’s print was the lowest since September 2024, when just more than 7.1 million openings were…

Key Takeaways If you’re five years from retirement, maximize your contributions to your 401(k) and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).Take a good look at your current finances and the amount you’ve already saved to help you determine how much more you need to save in order to retire comfortably.Gradually adjust your investment portfolio away from riskier investments, like stocks, to more conservative investments, like bonds. Five years might not seem like a lot of time to save for retirement, especially if you’re already in your late 50s or early 60s. Fortunately, it is enough time to adjust your retirement portfolio and…

Where Else People Age 65-74 Are Saving Money Asset Percent of Households with This Asset Median Value for Holders of This Asset CDs 11.4% $5,300 Savings Bonds 8.2% $10,000 Stocks (Directly Held) 20.4% $65,000 Retirement Accounts 51.0% $200,000 Bonds (Directly Held) 2.2% $322,000 Source: The Federal Reserve’s “Survey of Consumer Finances” (2022) “Directly held” means the asset is not in a retirement account. The value of bonds in this table looks much higher than the other categories, especially given that only a tiny fraction of 65- to 74-year-olds owns directly held corporate or municipal bonds. This small group either holds…

Key Takeaways Campbell’s exceeded earnings estimates as consumers do more cooking at home.The maker of soups and sauces got a boost from higher prices.Campbell’s said its product portfolio is well-positioned to benefit from consumers being cautious about their spending on food. More people are cooking at home. That’s been good for Campbell’s bottom line. The Campbell’s Co. (CPB) CEO Mick Beekhuizen said in prepared remarks Wednesday that over the past few quarters, the company has seen that “consumers remain cautious and intentional with their spending,” and that they “continue to seek value in a variety of ways, such as cooking…

Key Takeaways Raising the minimum wage might increase the number of “good jobs” that provide solid benefits, reasonable levels of autonomy, and career paths, according to a new study. An analysis of minimum wage hikes in Uruguay found that wages rose the most for lower-income workers and wage inequality decreased, a finding that backs studies on minimum wage changes in the U.S. Higher wages did not increase the likelihood of workers losing their jobs, the study also found, a challenge to some conventional wisdom on the topic. In the U.S., the minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since 2009. Raising the minimum…

Key Takeaways Pending home sales edged higher in July on an annual basis, and economists and real estate professionals see signs of an improvement on the horizon.Mortgage rates are ticking lower, while the growth rate of home prices has cooled and the amount of inventory that’s for sale is climbing.Mortgage application volume is also pointing higher — another positive trend. The U.S. real estate market might be starting to thaw. Homebuyers have been hampered with soaring home prices and high mortgage rates for years. But economists see signs that market conditions are improving for house hunters. For instance, pending home…