Author: Money Mechanics

Social Security needs help to continue paying promised benefits.gettySocial Security is in trouble, but it’s not going bankrupt and it’s not going away in the near future. That’s an important conclusion from the 2026 OASDI Trustees Report that was released on June 9. The Social Security OASDI Trust Funds are projected to be depleted in the third quarter of 2034; at that time, about 83% of benefits can still be paid to beneficiaries. This percentage declines gradually to 62% by 2100. By the way, for those of you interested, OASDI stands for Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program, and it’s…

The World Cup kicks off Thursday in Mexico City, and fans are paying hefty prices to be a part of the action. FIFA estimates that between 5 million and 6 million fans will attend the six-week tournament, which takes place in 16 cities across North America.Among the 11 U.S. host cities, in five of them the least expensive tickets for matches are more expensive than the typical monthly mortgage for that market, according to a new analysis from real estate research company PropertyShark.Fans attending matches in Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, Kansas City, and the World Cup Final in New York can…

If you don’t think your purchasing power is the same as it was even a few months ago, you’re not alone. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its May CPI report, showing inflation rose 0.5% for the month, bringing the annual inflation rate to 4.20%, the highest it’s been in three years.Fuel costs remain the primary catalyst for these trends. As the conflict in Iran persists, expensive energy continues to inflate the price of everything from airfare to groceries.What’s more, if you’re trying to shelter your cash from rising prices, it’s hard to find many savings accounts outpacing the current…

At a time when it feels like every news story is about how your costs are getting higher, USAA is bringing a little bit of financial relief to some of its car insurance customers in Florida. This week, the company announced a combination of rate cuts and direct dividend payments to eligible members that would total nearly $1 billion in savings.The news comes just months after State Farm announced a similar dividend payout for its customers. So some drivers have been seeing at least a little relief even as soaring gas prices strain their wallets.But which drivers are going to…

If you’re like me, you love your children more than anything.You spend years, even decades, crafting a life centered around protecting and supporting them. You work thousands of hours building a successful career, growing investments, purchasing a home, saving for your future and creating opportunities you might not have had yourself.Every decision is made with the hope of creating more security, stability and possibilities for the people you love most. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE…

In-brief analysis June 10, 2026 Data source: Bloomberg L.P. and the U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsNote: RIN=renewable identification number; real prices are adjusted to May 2026 dollars. Compliance credits for biomass-based diesel and ethanol have doubled in value since the start of this year. The credits, known as renewable identification numbers (RINs), have increased in price, mostly because of higher U.S. biofuel blending targets. The combination of high RIN prices and rising motor gasoline and diesel fuel prices has created an especially favorable market for producing and blending biofuels. RINs…

The United States will release liquefied and liquefied petroleum gas from its strategic reserves to sell to ASEAN members, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said today at an ASEAN event in Vietnam. “The current energy crisis has clearly outlined the need for countries to diversify energy resources, and the United States wants to work with you to help ASEAN member states not only navigate the current situation, but also to support long-term energy security and resilience,” the U.S. official said, as quoted by Reuters. Landau added that the United States was eager to boost its energy exports to the…

The May 2026 Consumer Price Index of All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) report indicates that inflation increased by 0.5% this month, down from 0.6% in April. These data were released at 8:30 am EST on June 10, 2026, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Before seasonal adjustment, the year-over-year (Y-o-Y) inflation rate in the all-items index grew by 4.2%. This month’s results mostly aligned with economists’ consensus estimates. The table below is courtesy of Investing.com. The left column represents May’s figures, while the right column represents forecasters’ expectations. As you can see, the black figures were in line, while the core…

Higher oil prices pushed inflation to a new three-year peak in May, complicating the outlook for the Federal Reserve ahead of next week’s policy meeting.Overall prices increased by 4.2% in the 12 months through May, up from 3.8% in April, according to the U.S. Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released Wednesday. The May readout matches economist expectations but marks the highest inflation since April 2023. The energy index jumped 3.9% in May, after rising 3.8% in April and 10.9% in March, accounting for over 60% of the monthly inflation, according to the report.Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy costs,…

During your working career, the financial goal is simple: Accumulation. You save, you invest, and you watch the numbers grow.But as you cross the finish line into retirement, you hit the biggest hurdle in personal finance — the transition to decumulation.Suddenly, you aren’t living on a paycheck; you’re living off your portfolio. Does this mean you should automatically become a more conservative investor? From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit…