Author: Money Mechanics

The share of Americans who are both married and own a home by age 30 has shrunk from 52% in 1960 to just 12%, according to new data—in a shocking collapse that has the potential to impact the future net worth of these couples, as well as the long-term health of the housing market and U.S. economy.The data, based on an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau records, highlights the dual impact of social shifts and a persistent housing shortage. The most recent analysis from Realtor.com® pegs the national housing deficit at 4.03 million homes, while other estimates from the White…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The writer is director of the African Department at the IMFFor much of the past 30 years, I’ve worked with countries as they’ve dealt with grave economic challenges. More recently, this has been the case for many countries across sub-Saharan Africa, as they have drifted into what I call the “grey zone”: not an outright crisis but burdened by imbalances that leave them dangerously exposed. Now, as I prepare to hang up my boots as director of the IMF’s African Department, I…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The world once quaked at the power of Opec. The 1973 oil embargo on the US by Arab exporters almost quadrupled the crude price. The cartel’s influence has long been waning due to oil’s declining share of the global energy mix and Opec’s declining share of world output thanks to the US shale revolution and rising production in countries such as Canada, Brazil and Guyana. The departure of the United Arab Emirates gives the impression of an organisation now in its twilight.…

is grinding through a third consecutive losing session and the tape is uglier than the headline numbers suggest. Spot prices sit between $4,510 and $4,570 across data feeds, with the most recent prints clustering near $4,556 to $4,559 and the U.S. session pushing toward fresh April lows beneath $4,500. The intraday drop registered another 1.3% lower, the weekly decline has now stretched to 2%, and slipped 1% to trade below $4,600 an ounce. The pullback drags bullion back to levels last visited at the close of March, a month that booked the worst monthly performance for the metal since 2008…

EeroMajor internet outages have been on the rise in the U.S. According to one study, outages surged 178% in the last two months of 2025, and the rate of ISP downtime has increased in the early months of this year.That’s bad news if you’re running a small business. For small businesses, reliable internet connectivity is essential. Even short outages can disrupt operations, slow down transactions, and impact the customer experience. The new Eero Signal 4G LTE device is designed to give your business a simple, affordable backup solution that integrates seamlessly with your existing Eero mesh network. Made by the…

Key TakeawaysTightening Spreads: The round lot change implemented in November 2025 clearly impacted spread outcomes. Both the $250 to $1,000 and $1,000 to $10,000 price categories saw sustained spread tightening from 21 days pre-reform to 21 days post reform — declining 27% and 23% respectively.Size at the Inside: Both the $250 to $1,000 and $1,000 to $10,000 price categories experienced sharp, persistent declines in average shares at the inside following the November 2025 change. From October to November 2025, shares dropped 29% from 209 to 148 shares and 68% from 99 to 32 shares respectively. Neither price group showed meaningful…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Stocks sagged ahead of the Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain the current target range for the federal funds rate after President Donald Trump rejected a peace offer from Iran that would open the Strait of Hormuz. Central banks around the world are still waiting to see how the war in the Middle East will impact inflation and thus their respective policies on interest rates.The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted 8-4 to keep the fed funds rate at 3.50% to 3.75%. “Inflation is elevated,” the FOMC said in its policy statement, “in part reflecting the recent increase…

As Gen Z and millenials will likely tell you, a college degree doesn’t guarantee you’ll earn enough to afford a home.A survey by Clever Real Estate found that although college students expect to make $80,004 one year after graduating with a bachelor’s degree, they’re still worried; 57% don’t think their first post-college job will provide them with enough income to buy a home. This uncertainty has led to a mindset shift as 43% of college undergrads surveyed said that if they could do it again, they’d prioritize buying a home over attending college.But whether college is worthwhile these days may ultimately…

Shares in Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) have been a long-term market beater, but there’s a twist. The fast-casual food chain is a great example of what happens when a company’s days of hyperfast growth have long passed.Like McDonald’s (MCD), CMG claims humble origins, starting with a single location. The first Chipotle opened in Denver in 1993 and it quickly became a hit. Founder Steve Ellis’s focus on high-quality and fresh ingredients served in a fast-food format was revolutionary at the time.The fast-casual restaurant concept was born. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor.…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Most grandparents think of gifting in terms of birthday checks or holiday envelopes. But for those looking to make a transformative impact, the real opportunity lies in “seed capital.” By leveraging specific IRS rules — such as funding a custodial Roth IRA to jumpstart decades of tax-free growth — you aren’t just giving money; you are giving the gift of compounding. By initiating these strategies while your grandkids are young, strategic gifts can effectively “fund” a child’s most significant future milestones.How well do you know the rules governing these sophisticated wealth-transfer tools? Take our 10-question quiz to…