Author: Money Mechanics

The average monthly payment on a new vehicle in 2015 was $491. The average amount financed: $28,769. Now, some 10 years later, the average monthly payment in the fourth quarter of 2025 hit an all-time high of $772, with the typical amount financed also hitting a record $43,759, according to Edmunds. Longer loan terms, buyers paying $1,000 or more a month for a vehicle than ever before, and higher insurance costs — buying a new car may be reaching the limits of affordability, mirroring the other classic American dream in some ways: buying a house. Are you overspending on a…

Last year, the US stock market was volatile, especially in the first half. Early in the year, President Donald Trump announced a new trade policy built around high reciprocal tariffs, which in theory would have been the highest in more than a century. Markets reacted sharply, with steep declines. Although stocks recovered later in the year as the administration softened its stance, the finished with gains of only around 12%. Company earnings were broadly encouraging, as many large firms continued to beat market expectations. At the same time, this strength has fueled concerns about a possible AI bubble in the…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. January 08, 2026 Federal Reserve Board announces approval of application by Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. For release at 4:00 p.m. EST The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday announced its approval of the application by Prosperity Bancshares, Inc., located in Houston, Texas, to acquire Southwest Bancshares, Inc., and thereby indirectly acquire Texas Partners Bank, both of San Antonio, Texas. For media inquiries, please email [email protected] or call (202) 452-2955. Last Update: January 08, 2026 Source…

In early 2020, global nominal interest rates converged around zero, with the US (at the 10-year maturity point) under 1% and the EU slightly negative. The monetary spigots were on, and central banks coordinated to squirt liquidity everywhere they could. Since that time, as monetary policy has diverged somewhat, nominal interest rates have diverged. Notably, Japanese rates remained lower than other developed country rates, but in general the picture spread out a bit. What is interesting, though, is that this behavior of nominal rates obscures what is really happening ‘under the hood’ so to speak. Recall that nominal rates are…

Researchers found that unexpected costs are the norm, not the exception. In any given year, 83% of retired households experience at least one unexpected expense. These fall into three broad categories: Rainy-day costs, such as major home or vehicle repairs Family-related expenses, including helping relatives or covering emergency travel Health-related expenses beyond routine care Health and home costs are especially common, with each affecting well over half of retirees in a typical year. Age itself made little difference once households reached 65. Instead, income and other socioeconomic factors shaped how often expenses showed up — and how large they became.…

Kerry Wan/ZDNETFollow ZDNET to learn more about smartphones: Add us as a preferred source on Google.It’s a new year, which means new deals on brand-new products. OnePlus is kicking off 2026 with a limited-time promotion on its most recent flagship smartphone: the OnePlus 15. Currently, buyers are eligible for a $100 cashback bonus when purchasing the phone via trade-in. You can trade in any device, in any condition, and get that discount. You can also lower the price even further by trading in an eligible phone — for example, trading in an iPhone 17 could net you up to a $478 discount.The OnePlus…

Key Takeaways Diversify your $10,000 across multiple asset classes to balance safety and growth. Index funds offer long-term growth potential with low fees. High-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) and certificates of deposit (CDs) are considered short-term, low-risk choices. U.S. Treasuries and bonds provide reliable returns amid current high interest rates. If you suddenly find yourself with $10,000 from a bonus, tax refund, or inheritance, you might be wondering what to do with it. Should you play it safe or invest for growth? The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. However, you have many options for ways to put that money to…

(BOE Report) – The U.S. Senate is due to consider a resolution on Thursday that would block President Donald Trump from taking further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, and backers said the measure could pass in a close vote. Days after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a dramatic military raid in Caracas, senators will vote on the latest in a series of war powers measures introduced since the administration ramped up military pressure on the country with attacks on boats off its coast in September. Republicans have blocked all of the measures, but the last…

Key Takeaways Roles related to building AI systems are thriving, with salaries averaging over $150,000.Top graduate programs at Carnegie Mellon, MIT, and Stanford can position you to build the technology rather than compete against it.When evaluating programs, focus on research opportunities and job placement, not just rankings. The jobs most exposed to AI aren’t disappearing. They’re outperforming the rest of the labor market in both growth and wages, according to a December 2025 Vanguard analysis. But exposure to AI isn’t the same as vulnerability to it. Employment for workers ages 22 to 25 in roles that are vulnerable to AI, including…

Key Takeaways Colgate-Palmolive is poised to recover in 2026 after its sales growth slowed and stock fell in 2025, Morgan Stanley analysts wrote.The analysts named the company their top pick in the Household & Personal Care segment, and said they expect sales to grow faster than competitors this year. Morgan Stanley analysts named a consumer products giant known for its toothpaste one of their top picks for the year. Colgate-Palmolive (CL) is now the analysts’ top pick in the Household & Personal Care sector, as they expect the company’s sales growth to recover in 2026 after a “below-plan 2025.” The…