Author: Money Mechanics

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…

Key Takeaways Macy’s relatively affluent customers are “resilient” and “engaged” as holiday shopping gets underway, CEO Tony Spring said.The company’s gains were largely driven by its luxury department store, Bloomingdale’s, and “aspirational” customers may not stick around, Spring said. Well-heeled consumers are maintaining their pace as the holidays approach, Macy’s says. The middle- and upper-income households that tend to shop at Macy’s Inc. (M) spent briskly this fall, the parent company of Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury as well as Macy’s said Wednesday. They shoppers helped the retailer record a 3% year-over-year increase in comparable store sales—its biggest gain in three years.…

Key Takeaways Caregiving can quietly strain your finances, from higher daily costs to paused savings, making it easy to slip off your path to retirement.Create a simple system to track your income, caregiving costs, and retirement contributions so you can spot early signs that your financial plan is drifting.Draw on community resources and professional support to reduce financial pressure and avoid decisions that could jeopardize your long-term security. The Financial Impact of Being a Caregiver In 2025, 63 million Americans—nearly one in four adults—are caregivers for a family member with a disability or medical condition. If you’re among them, you…

Key Takeaways If you plan to stash your RMD funds in savings, withdrawing now—instead of by Dec. 31—may let you lock in a high yield before it’s gone. Moving your RMD money to one of today’s top CDs lets you guarantee a safe 4%-plus return for months or years down the road. But don’t delay, as the Fed is widely expected to cut interest rates next week, which will push savings and CD returns lower. You Have Until Dec. 31 To Take Your 2025 RMD—But Waiting Could Cost You If you’re subject to a required minimum distribution (RMD) this year,…

Key Takeaways Salesforce posted a quarterly profit that topped analysts’ estimates, citing momentum from its AI offerings.The customer relationship management software leader also boosted its outlook. Could a bit of fresh momentum from Salesforce’s AI offerings be just what the company needed to kick-start a recovery in its stock? Shares of Salesforce (CRM) were recently up 3% in extended trading Wednesday, after the software giant posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit and raised its outlook on the back of growth from its data products and AI offerings. The customer relationship management software leader reported adjusted earnings per share of $3.25 for…

November 2025 delivered mixed returns to equity investors with nearly two weeks of sideways action preceding a brisk period of risk-off activity, led by a decline in large-cap market leaders. As a result, broad market averages were down nearly 4% over several days, before a rebound late in the month left most indices near all-time highs. For the month, the S&P 500 Index was up just over nine points, or 0.13%, while the Russell 2000 Index finished up nearly 15 points, or 0.85%. Selling pressure on high-flying large-cap stocks led to outperformance in the Cboe S&P 500 Equal Weight Index…