Author: Money Mechanics

Children’s savings programs like Trump accounts highlight the debate over baby bonds, wealth gaps and tax policy in America.Getty ImagesMichael and Susan Dell have pledged $6.25 billion to expand Trump’s child wealth accounts, but design flaws mean the biggest benefits will still go to higher-income families, not those who need them most. Their money will add $250 to the new federal “Trump accounts” for 25 million children younger than 10, supplementing the government’s $1,000 deposit for every baby born from 2025 through 2028.The Dells deserve praise. They chose children, insisted on universal eligibility within an age group and framed their…

Key Takeaways American Eagle Outfitters shares popped Wednesday after the retailer posted better-than-expected earnings and boosted its outlook.The retailer said it benefited from the success of ad campaigns with actress Sydney Sweeney and NFL star Travis Kelce. American Eagle Outfitters stock is getting a big lift from celebrity buzz. Shares of the clothing retailer were up about 15% in recent trading, after the company posted stronger-than-expected earnings, with a bit of help from ads featuring actress Sydney Sweeney and NFL star and Taylor Swift fiance Travis Kelce. American Eagle (AEO) posted earnings per share of $0.53 on revenue that jumped…

KEY TAKEAWAYS Gas prices have remained relatively low and stable throughout the year, with the average gas price at the beginning of December reaching the lowest level seen since 2021.While consumers have been stressed about the U.S. economy and inflation, prices at the gas pump have remained a source of stability, and could even slow price increases at the grocery store. Although grocery bills and holiday shopping this year are more expensive, gas prices have remained low, a trend that may impact general prices in a positive way. The national average price of gasoline was $2.95 per gallon as of…

Key Takeaways CME Group’s derivatives markets went dark last Friday after a vital data center run by a third party overheated.The technical glitch showed how much global financial markets depend on a few key institutions. The potential for a hugely damaging disruption in financial markets was averted thanks to a holiday. CME Group (CME), one of the largest derivatives exchanges in the world, halted futures and options trading across major asset classes for 10-plus hours, ending early last Friday, due to an overheated data center. The outage occurred when trading volumes were lower than average due to Thanksgiving, which may…

Key Takeaways The federal government shutdown froze economic data releases, and agencies are still working to catch up. While a handful of reports have been rescheduled, some have also been consolidated or canceled. Other new release dates are still expected for several key reports for September, October and November. The government shutdown ended three weeks ago and statistical agencies are working to catch up on economic releases they missed. After being closed for 43 days, the federal bureaus that track inflation, employment, and economic growth are behind schedule on several reports, but they are beginning to catch up. This week, we’ll…

Key Takeaways Core PCE inflation, the Fed’s preferred gauge of consumer price increases, likely rose 2.9% in September, heading in the wrong direction from the Fed’s goal of a 2% annual rate.Although Fed officials are worried about simmering inflation, they are expected to cut interest rates anyway next week to help the faltering job market. The Fed’s preferred measure of inflation likely kept sizzling in September.A report scheduled for release on Friday is expected to show that inflation, as measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditures index, rose 2.8% over the 12 months ending in September, up from 2.7% in August…

In-brief analysis December 3, 2025 Data source: Bloomberg L.P.Note: Data through November 26, 2025. All crack spreads are calculated against the Dated Brent crude oil spot price. Global refinery margins for diesel have widened since late October and increased to their highest level all year, following refinery outages in Russia and in the Middle East and new sanctions on Russia’s crude oil, leading to limited refinery production and a decreased global diesel supply. The impact was most pronounced in the Atlantic Basin, contributing to higher prices at the Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp (ARA)…

U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON DC 20585 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 3, 2025 On December 3, 2025, the U.S. Energy Information Administration failed to publish the Weekly Petroleum Status Report on time. We are investigating the causes of this incident, which appear to have been technical in nature, as the report itself was ready for publication. We are preparing a backup system to support tomorrow’s scheduled publication of the Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report. This statement was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA’s data,…

Pricing can get a bit tricky. My choice: 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Limited. (This one is in Argentina.) By David Enna, Tipswatch.com In 2026, for the first time, I will be forced by law to take a Required Minimum Distribution from my traditional IRA. That’s bad news, but the good news is: I can buy a new car! This has been my long-time plan, to replace my 10-year old Honda HR-V with a new car in January 2026. Do I really need a new car? No. The Honda has been flawless over a decade of driving and will last many more…

A Fortec adaptive reuse project in Barrington, Illinois.Courtesy: FortecA version of this article first appeared in the CNBC Property Play newsletter with Diana Olick. Property Play covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, from individuals to venture capitalists, private equity funds, family offices, institutional investors and large public companies. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.Rising demand from parents for early education is causing a boom in a small but fast-growing subsector of commercial real estate. The sector is so undersupplied that it’s increasingly attractive to both developers and investors. The U.S. child-care market is currently valued…