Author: Money Mechanics

This article is a part of a series that resulted from some observations about the economic modelling in the strategy video game Europa Universalis 5 (EU5). That game allows you to take over the leadership of one of the very many political organisations that existed in 1337 and steer it into the following centuries (the game timeline ends in the 1800s). However, in order to understand the economic situation in 1837 in Western Europe, you need to understand how Western Europe evolved out of the Western Roman Empire. My previous article gave a potted history of how the Romans provided…

When is Black Friday? Black Friday is Friday, Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving. While it’s typically associated with general retail sales, we’re seeing a lot more online deals, as well. Cyber Monday, the traditional online shopping sale day, is Monday, Dec. 1. Both of these days will have some great deals, and there will be some overlap.  Are phones really cheaper during Black Friday? Yes, phones, including recent iPhone models, are often cheaper on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, matching (if not beating) the level of discount you’d find during any other major shopping event. This is partly because Cyber Week…

Key Takeaways Social Security recipients will see a 2.8% COLA increase in 2026, but some of that boost is to be offset by rising Medicare Part B premiums. The monthly Medicare Part B premium will rise almost 10% to $202.90 per month, cutting into the 2026 COLA announced last month. That extra cash landing in your Social Security check next year? Don’t spend it just yet. Medicare just announced its 2026 premiums, and they’re about to take a bite out of your cost-of-living raise. For the average retiree, what looked like a $57 monthly boost will shrink to just $39…

(BOE Report)– U.S. liquefied natural gas company Freeport LNG’s export plant in Texas was on track to take in more natural gas on Friday in a sign that one of its three liquefaction trains has returned to service after shutting on Thursday, LSEG data and regulatory filings show. Freeport is one of the world’s most closely watched U.S. LNG export plants because changes to its operations have caused price swings in global gas markets in the past. When flows to Freeport drop, gas prices in the U.S. usually decline owing to reduced demand for the fuel from the export plant.…

This WeekContinuing the trend of the last few weeks, markets were once again focused on the Federal Reserve and artificial intelligence (AI) bubble concerns.After weeks of Fed officials focusing on inflation fears, this week saw two voters (Waller and Williams) support a December cut due to the soft labor market. And despite a headline gain of +119k jobs in September, there’s still cause for concern. The unemployment rate rose to a 4-year high (of just 4.4%), and the economy saw (small) net job losses in June and August. So, December rate cut odds have rebounded to 70% from just 30%…

Key Takeaways Warren Buffett’s recent moves show that he sees stocks as overvalued and is waiting for better prices. Buffett has been quietly rotating sectors, cutting back on technology and buying or adding to businesses facing short-term challenges but that look to have long-term value. His portfolio moves are a reminder to focus on real, cash-generating businesses—not hype or speculation. Buffett has been mostly quiet in 2025—but the few moves he has made have been telling. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B) has continued to add to its massive cash and T-bill hoard, chipped away at its Apple Inc. (AAPL) position,…

Key Takeaways Homebuilder stocks jumped Friday after comments from a Federal Reserve official boosted hopes of an interest rate cut in December. A drop in the central bank’s benchmark rate could lead to lower mortgage rates, which would help homebuyers and drive more revenue for homebuilders. Builders are getting a big boost from rising expectations of a rate cut next month. Homebuilder stocks were among some the biggest gainers in the S&P 500 Friday, after Federal Reserve Bank of New York president John Williams said at a conference that there is “room for a further adjustment in the near term to…

Key Takeaways Oracle’s stock has plunged since hitting an all-time high in September as the company has become a poster child for growing investor concerns that an AI bubble has formed. The company is enmeshed in the web of deals linking different parts of the AI complex together, which means that its pain could be felt by others. Betting big on artificial intelligence is proving to be a double-edged sword. Shares of Oracle (ORCL), the almost-50 year-old software company turned AI play, rallied furiously during the summer as investor enthusiasm for what could be the next transformative technology surged. Lately…

Key Takeaways An off-price apparel retailer benefitted from solid results and an improved outlook on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, while losses mounted for an enterprise software giant.Ross Stores topped quarterly expectations and raised its outlook for the key holiday period, and shares of the discount retailer surged.Oracle shares extended their recent downtrend amid concerns about its valuation and spending needs. Shares of an off-price apparel retailer climbed after the company touted its success in the back-to-school season and issued a rosy outlook for the critical holiday quarter. Meanwhile, a database software firm remained under pressure as questions linger about its…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Stocks were choppy to start Friday, but took a notable turn higher after a speech from New York Fed President John Williams temporarily eased rate-cut worries. Still, the main indexes finished with big weekly losses – putting them on track for their worst November in years.The Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate by a quarter-percentage point at its September and October meetings. And one month ago, futures traders were pricing in 98% odds of another rate cut in December. But expectations eased back in recent weeks after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said a December cut wasn’t…