Author: Money Mechanics

AI’s biggest champions have argued for some time that the technology will usher in an era of unprecedented productivity gains, richly rewarding workers who harness it while displacing those who don’t. Zeb Evans, CEO of the collaboration software startup ClickUp, claims that this shift is imminent. Last Thursday, Evans announced on X that the company, which was last valued in 2021 at $4 billion, had laid off 22% of its workforce yet characterized that reduction as not a cost-cutting measure, but rather a radical embrace of AI that will propel the company to the next level. “Most savings from this…

Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis has opened up about the hilarious childhood pastime that left the residents of her quiet Massachusetts hometown so alarmed that they would regularly phone her mother to report her wild antics.The “Thelma & Louise” star reflected on her humble upbringing in Wareham in a new interview with The Wall Street Journal, recalling how she often entertained herself by acting out elaborate scenarios while riding around her neighborhood on her bike.According to Davis, her imagination frequently got so intense that nearby residents became genuinely concerned—largely because the “roles” she would play required her to yell and scream.…

Over the past few years, the sluggish U.S. housing market has weighed heavily on home improvement retail, and Lowe’s hasn’t been immune. After weak sales growth in 2025, the home-improvement retail chain has recently expanded its deals and services to win back customers. As these changes roll out, Lowe’s has noticed a concerning shift in how customers are shopping in its stores. In the first quarter of 2026, Lowe’s saw its comparable sales increase by 0.6%, compared to the same quarter the year before, according to its latest earnings report. Also, recent Placer.ai data revealed that foot traffic in Lowe’s…

The oil market is trading lower at the start of the week, with signs of a deal between the US and Iran increasing Energy – US Drilling Activity Jumps The oil market sold off in early morning trading in Asia, with down around 5% at the time of writing and trading back below $100/bbl. This comes as President Trump suggested over the weekend that progress has been made on a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. We’ve been at this stage before, only for talks to break down. Therefore, the market will likely be more…

(World Oil) – Noble Corporation has appointed Jeff Miller to its board of directors, adding additional offshore drilling and oilfield services leadership experience to the company’s board. Miller currently serves as chairman, president and CEO of Halliburton, one of the world’s largest oilfield services companies. “I am delighted to welcome Jeff to Noble’s Board of Directors,” said Charles Sledge, Noble chairman. “With deep industry expertise and a proven strength in strategic planning and international business, he brings valuable insights and leadership as we continue to guide Noble’s long-term strategy.” Miller joined Halliburton in 1997 and has held multiple leadership positions across the company’s global operations, including…

Congress continues to increase the tax and estate planning benefits of 529 plans, making them a must-consider tool for parents and grandparents.529 plans were created to assist families saving for the higher education expenses of their children and grandchildren. The plans have been expanded several times, most notably in 2021 and 2025. Now, 529 education savings plans offer numerous tax and estate planning advantages.The plans are named after the number of the tax code section that authorizes them and sets their rules. There are two major types of 529 plans. A prepaid 529 plan is somewhat like an annuity. A…

In the North Georgia mountains, where trout streams wind through the forest, a newly relisted creekside retreat is offering a fisherman’s dream: the chance to quite literally make the catch of the day from your own front porch.Located at 401 Mountain Rivers Road in Mineral Bluff, the fully renovated property, which features over 200 feet of pristine water frontage, recently returned to the market for $709,900, having initially been brought to market in August 2024 with the elevated asking price of $799,900. “Extraordinary family estate and creek front retreat along Hemptown Creek, one of North Georgia’s stocked trout streams nestled…

(Image credit: GETTY IMAGES)Pets are an important part of many Americans’ lives — and often an expensive one, too. The lifetime costs of caring for a dog can run anywhere from $16,440 to $52,075, depending on its breed, size and ongoing health conditions, according to a survey from online pet-care marketplace Cat owners can expect to cover expenses in the range of $10,725 to $61,520, with the cat’s size and life span influencing the overall costs.Luckily, there are ways to reduce how much you spend on your pet without sacrificing the quality of their care. Try these tips to lower…

(Image credit: GETTY IMAGES)Second marriages have long been called a triumph of hope over experience — a line rooted in the assumption that remarriage simply repeats the dynamics of a first union. But that notion is increasingly outdated.Today’s second marriages are so distinct from what first unions entail that they almost deserve a moniker of their own (“conscious recoupling,” anyone?). For one thing, people who remarry tend to be older almost by definition, with the fastest rate of growth in second unions happening among men and women ages 65 and up.And because they’ve had years of building a life separately…

Consumer sentiment has tumbled to a fresh record low in May as fears of higher prices grow due to the U.S.-Iran war and elevated oil prices, the University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers said Friday.The index of consumer sentiment fell to 44.8 from a preliminary reading of 48.2. It’s also well below the 49.8 level seen at the end of April. “Consumer sentiment fell for the third straight month as supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to boost gasoline prices. Sentiment is now just below the previous historical trough seen in June 2022,” Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne…