Author: Money Mechanics

By David Enna, Tipswatch.com Welcome to the most important (and most delayed) inflation report of the year: For September, seasonally adjusted U.S. inflation increased 0.3% and the annual rate ticked up from 2.9% to 3.0%, the beleaguered Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. While 3.0% is a too-high rate of inflation, this report will be seen as relatively benign because it came in lower than expectations. Core inflation increased 0.2% for the month and held steady at 3.0%. All the numbers were lower than expected. This is a very important report because it sets in stone the new variable rate…

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…

The tech layoff wave is still kicking in 2025. Last year saw more than 150,000 job cuts across 549 companies, according to independent layoffs tracker Layoffs.fyi. So far this year, more than 22,000 workers have been the victim of reductions across the tech industry, with a staggering 16,084 cuts taking place in February alone. We’re tracking layoffs in the tech industry in 2025 so you can see the trajectory of the cutbacks and understand the impact on innovation across all types of companies. As businesses continue to embrace AI and automation, this tracker serves as a reminder of the human…

(BOE Report)– U.S. oil company ConocoPhillips is laying off employees at its Canadian operations, according to three sources and a company memo reviewed by Reuters, as it moves to cut up to a quarter of its global workforce by next year. The memo did not specify how many layoffs would take place but said they would begin at the company’s Canadian operations in the first week of November. Employees in Calgary will be notified virtually on November 5 and those in the company’s Surmont oil sands operation in northern Alberta and its Montney shale play in British Columbia will be told…

 How are emerging technologies, such as AI, quantum or accelerated computing, transforming the demand on energy infrastructure? And how can modular solar systems help meet those demands?Emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing are creating concentrated, high-intensity energy demands that overwhelm our aging electrical grid. Traditional grid upgrades are expensive, slow, and inefficient due to transmission losses over long distances.To sustain America’s leadership in intelligence and innovation, we must build for energy abundance. That means bringing generation closer to load and co-locating power directly with data centers and compute hubs. This approach reduces grid strain, eliminates transmission losses, and ensures…

Key Takeaways A major automaker led gains on the S&P 500 Friday, while a shoes and apparel maker lost ground after warning about a pullback in consumer spending.Ford shares soared after the automaker posted quarterly earnings that topped analysts’ estimates. Deckers Outdoor shares plunged after the shoe and apparel maker said it expects consumers could pull back in the face of tariffs and higher prices. Shares of a major automaker surged Friday on a strong earnings report, while a shoes and apparel maker lost ground after warning tariffs and higher prices could discourage shoppers. Major U.S. equities indexes finished the week…

KEY TAKEAWAYS Unless the government resolves the shutdown and resumes funding SNAP programs by Oct. 31, about 42 million beneficiaries will not receive aid in November.Some states have already stopped SNAP benefits and announced that November benefits will be delayed unless the government opens soon.A Senate bill was introduced this week, which would keep SNAP benefits running through the duration of the government shutdown. Federal food aid benefits could run out in a little over a week and not resume until the government shutdown is resolved. It has been more than three weeks since the government shutdown began, as Democrats…

Key Takeaways If you want to land a high-paying job in artificial intelligence, aim to grow your math and computer science skills—they matter more than your specific major or degree.Still, learning about AI and studying subjects like design, neuroscience, or philosophy can help you gain useful insights and make you more adaptable in a field that values flexibility.When deciding where to go to school, don’t focus on college and university rankings as much as on courses, research access, and internship prospects. The college major you choose today could determine whether you thrive in—or get left behind by—the AI economy. Since…

Stocks shot out of the gate Friday and kept climbing into the close as market participants cheered a tame inflation reading that all but confirmed a rate cut at next week’s Fed meeting. A round of well-received earnings also lifted sentiment ahead of a busy week of corporate reports.At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.0% at 47,207, the S&P 500 was 0.8% higher at 6,791, and the Nasdaq Composite had gained 1.2% to 23,204 – new record highs for all three indexes.Ahead of the opening bell, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the Consumer…

Social Security Card: Senior woman holding card in hand on white backgroundgettyToday’s Social Security COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment) means that about 75 million Americans just learned this morning that they will be receiving a 2.8% Social Security COLA increase (an average of $52 per month) starting in January 2026. This total includes retired workers, spouses, survivors, and people with disabilities, as well as some children. According to Pew Research Center children make up roughly 2% of all Social Security beneficiaries, while retirees and their spouses account for the vast majority.Results from a Motley Fool survey published January 17, 2025 reveal that…