Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)Money can be one of the hardest topics for couples to talk about not because it’s complicated, but because it’s personal. Our habits, fears and goals around money are often shaped long before we enter a relationship, and bringing those differences together isn’t always easy. Still, having open conversations about finances early on can prevent misunderstandings and help couples feel more like teammates than opponents.Whether you’re thinking about combining finances, moving in together or simply planning for the future, talking honestly about money can make a big difference. These conversations don’t have to feel formal or intimidating.In…

Thank you, Jacques. Good morning, and welcome to our fourth quarter and year end 2025 earnings call. I am pleased to report MMI’s continued recovery from one of the most complex and prolonged market disruptions on record with 2025 revenue growth of 8.5% and adjusted EBITDA improving to $25,000,000 compared to $9,000,000 in 2024. The fourth quarter particularly showed the strength of our resolve and execution as we set out to beat the exceptional 2024 fourth quarter which had been propelled by a significant drop in interest rates. Despite entering 2025 without the benefit of lower interest rates, I am…

In-brief analysis February 13, 2026 We forecast that U.S. natural gas marketed production will increase by 2% to average 120.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2026 and then further increase to a record-high 122.3 Bcf/d in 2027 in our latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). Around 69% of forecast production over the next two years comes from the Appalachia, Haynesville, and Permian regions. U.S. natural gas production growth will primarily come from the Appalachia region in the Northeast, the Permian region in western Texas and southeastern New Mexico, and the Haynesville region in eastern…

The Payrolls Employment Report in the United States released earlier this week was stronger than expected (although there were downward revisions of 2024-2025 levels). There were some attempts to downplay the strength by arguing that job growth was concentrated in areas associated with caring for old and sick people.The fact that such areas in the service economy are driving job growth is inevitable given the ageing of the population. The figure above shows the share of employment for health and manufacturing in the American economy. As we can see, the weight of manufacturing employment has been plummeting for some time.…

The January 2025 Consumer Price Index of All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) report indicates that inflation increased by 0.2% this month, down from 0.3% in December. These data were released at 8:30 am EST on February 13, 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 2.4%, a deceleration from the 2.7% realized in December. The figures were well behaved and mostly aligned with economists’ consensus estimates. The table below is courtesy of Investing.com. The left column represents January’s figures, while the right column represents forecasters’ expectations. As you…

Chen ZhaoChen Zhao is the head of economics research, where she produces research on the housing market for public and internal audiences. Previously, she was an executive director leading housing finance and financial markets research at the JPMorgan Chase Institute. Prior to joining JPMCI, Chen was an economics consultant at Analysis Group, Inc., where she worked on financial litigation cases and led teams conducting health economics and outcomes research on behalf of pharmaceutical companies. While in graduate school, Chen was with the Center for Economic Studies and the Social Economic and Housing Statistics Division at the US Census Bureau, where…

Key Takeaways Inflation has eased to 2.4%, but it will still eat away at any savings that are earning less than that rate.You can continue to earn well above today’s inflation rate with a top high-yield savings account, where rates range from 4.20% to 5%.To lock in your inflation protection, consider adding a top-paying CD, which guarantees its APY for months or years into the future. Is Your Savings Rate Higher Than Inflation? Here’s How to Check The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) puts inflation at 2.4% over the last 12 months, which is a welcome dip from last month’s…

Key Takeaways The average millennial (ages 30 to 45 in 2026) contributes 8.8% of their salary to their 401(k), and their employer contributes 4.6%. Many financial experts suggest a target of 15% in total.Median 401(k) balances for people in their 30s are about $25,000–$40,000, while the average, which skews higher, is over $100,000. If you’re in your 30s, chances are you’ve asked yourself: “Am I saving enough for retirement?” Between mortgages, child care, and student loans, it can be hard to find enough to take care of your future self. Yet, this decade is pivotal: the earlier you save, the…

Key Takeaways Median bank account balances in the U.S. range from $5,400 for those under 35 to $13,400 for ages 65–74, according to Federal Reserve data.Couples—with and without kids—report higher median savings than single households.College-educated households have the highest bank balances. How Much Cash Americans Keep in the Bank Federal Reserve data reveals what savings a typical American has by age, household type, and education. According to the Fed’s Survey of Consumer Finances, the amount held in bank accounts across all American households in 2022 (the most recent data available) was $8,000. This amount is in transaction accounts, which include checking,…

February 13, 2026 08:09 AM EST Federal Reserve Officials Are Still Nervous About Inflation FROM 16 minutes ago Some Fed officials this week said their focus remains on elevated prices. Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid: “We must remain focused on our headline inflation objective; otherwise, I believe there is a real risk that inflation will get stuck closer to 3% than 2% in the long run.”Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan: “Looking ahead, I anticipate we’ll see progress on inflation this year. But I am not yet fully confident inflation is heading all the way back to 2%.”Cleveland Fed President…