Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Carvana shares tumbled Thursday after the online car marketplace reported some fourth-quarter profit metrics that came in below expectations.The company said some costs came in higher than anticipated, and warned it could face elevated vehicle reconditioning costs in the first quarter. Carvana stock backed into reverse on Thursday. Shares of Carvana (CVNA) were down over 10% to $318 in recent trading after the online used car marketplace reported weakness in some key profitability metrics that outweighed solid sales numbers. The company’s gross profit per unit declined year-over-year and came in below analysts’ expectations at $6,427 for the fourth…

Key Takeaways Rising operating costs, wage compression, and long-term salary commitments can make it difficult for employers to meet job candidates’ salary demands.In lieu of higher salaries, employers are offering perks like remote work, wellness benefits, tuition reimbursement, and longer parental leave to attract talent.However, a high base salary is critical for financial well-being, as it impacts retirement savings, housing affordability, and future raises. In today’s job market, amid persistent inflation, job seekers want more compensation. In many cases, though, employers simply can’t give more. In fact, nearly three-quarters of employers are concerned about meeting candidates’ salary expectations, according to…

KEY TAKEAWAYS For 2024, the average taxpayer paid almost $12,600 in federal and state income and payroll taxes.Taxpayers ages 46 to 55 typically owe the highest amount to the IRS.The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act is expected to lower the average tax bill by more than $600. For the 2024 tax year, the average taxpayer paid about $12,582 in total federal and state income taxes, according to an Investopedia analysis of the most recent Census Bureau data. The good news: that figure is expected to drop as Americans file their 2025 returns this year. The average American pays most of…

What’s worse than filing your taxes once? Having to do it twice. But that may be the startling reality for roughly 42,000 District of Columbia residents who were proactive enough to file their tax returns early this year.As reported by Kiplinger, the D.C. Council recently enacted an emergency bill to decouple local tax laws from the federal 2025 Trump tax bill. That move would have effectively blocked residents from claiming the $6,000 “senior bonus,” the “no tax on tips” deduction, and other new federal tax breaks on their District returns.However, the United States Congress, which holds final review authority over…

Key Takeaways Financial advisors say having a mortgage in retirement isn’t necessarily bad, particularly if it allows retirees to maintain liquidity instead of tying up all their funds in home equity.Whether taking out a mortgage makes sense depends on factors such as tax considerations, legacy goals, lifestyle plans, and how long you intend to stay in the home.Because retirees rely on fixed income, lenders evaluate retirement income sources instead of wages from a salaried job. Are you ever too old to take out a mortgage? Many people hope to enter retirement debt-free, but financial advisors suggest that having debt in…

If you’re on Medicare, you probably dread at least two financial happenings each year: tax season and a letter informing you that your Part B and Part D premiums are increasing.That said, the new “senior bonus” deduction in President Donald Trump’s 2025 tax overhaul law probably sounds like a welcome break. (It’s up to $6,000 in extra tax relief if you’re 65 or older and otherwise eligible.) And it makes sense that the next question might be: Will the new “senior deduction” also help you avoid higher Medicare premiums?The answer is relatively simple, but the reasons behind it can feel…

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $70.3 billion in December, up $17.3 billion from $53.0 billion in November, revised.U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services DeficitDeficit:$70.3 Billion+32.6%°Exports:$287.3 Billion–1.7%°Imports:$357.6 Billion+3.6%°Next release: To be determined. Report delayed due to recent lapse in federal funding.(°) Statistical significance is not applicable or not measurable. Data adjusted for seasonality but not price changesSource: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, February 19, 2026Exports, Imports, and Balance (exhibit 1)December exports were $287.3 billion, $5.0…

Usage-based insurance can be a good option if you’re a safe, low-mileage driver. But some insurers can raise your rate if your driving habits are considered risky. To help you find the best usage-based (UBI) car insurance, Yahoo Finance analyzed 20 major insurers based on six key factors: UBI enrollment discount, maximum UBI discount savings, whether risky driving with UBI can raise your premium, rate competitiveness, and overall coverage and discount options. Below are the companies that topped our rankings. Learn more: Best car insurance companies overall Farm Bureau’s flagship telematics program, Driveology, has an automatic 10% enrollment discount and…

Today, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released new annual statistics on real personal consumption expenditures, real personal income, and regional price parities for all 50 states and the District of Columbia for 2024.Real personal consumption expenditures (PCE) highlightsReal PCE by state increased in 48 states and the District of Columbia in 2024. The percent change in real PCE ranged from 5.3 percent in Massachusetts to –0.2 percent in Montana.Regional estimates of real PCE are the current-dollar estimates adjusted by the corresponding regional price parity (RPP) and the national PCE price index.Real PCE for the nation increased 2.9 percent in…

In-brief analysis February 19, 2026 The first large-scale commercial enhanced geothermal system (EGS) power generator in the United States is under construction with the company reporting in our generator survey that it plans to bring the project online in June 2026. Below, we examine what enhanced geothermal systems are and how they differ from conventional geothermal systems. What is geothermal power generation? Geothermal power generation uses renewable hydrothermal (water and heat) resources to power the turbines that create electricity. These high-temperature hydrothermal resources come from either dry steam or hot water reservoirs measuring 300°F to…