Author: Money Mechanics

(Oil Price) – The OPEC+ group is not hiking oil production as much as the headline figures in the agreement suggest, as some members are close to capacity while others are compensating for previous overproduction. This could come as a relief to the market, which expects a major oversupply later this year and early next year. The OPEC+ members have so far delivered three-quarters of the increases that began in April 2025. The rise could drop to half of the volumes promised later this year, Reuters reported on Friday, citing data, traders, and analysts. Between April and August, the OPEC+ producers delivered only…

Medicare Cost Increases for 2026 2025 projected cost 2026 projected cost Percent Increase Part B premium $185 $206.50 11.6% Part D base beneficiary premium $36.78 $38.99 6% Part B deductible $257 $288 12% Part D deductible $590 $615 4.2% Part D catastrophic threshold $2,000 $2,100 5% 2. Part D’s Catastrophic Threshold Is Going Up The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) instituted a cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for people with Medicare Part D. This catastrophic threshold is similar to an out-of-pocket maximum in other health plans, but it just applies to prescription drugs. After you meet it, the plan pays 100%…

Key Takeaways If you’ve worked hard to save $30,000 or more, it’s time to make that money work for you. A high-yield savings account can pay 13 times more than a traditional savings account, which often pays nearly 0% interest. By switching to an account that pays 4.50% APY (or better), you could earn hundreds of dollars more every year, helping to grow your savings faster. Consider high-yield savings accounts, high-yield checking accounts, and even money market accounts, which all pay high rates from 4.00% to 6.00%. For many, saving $30,000 can take years to achieve. In fact, the median…

If you’re a Baby Boomer (born from 1946 to 1964), you’ve probably noticed two things:Retirement for you doesn’t look like it did for your parentsPrices are rising faster than your investment statementsLurking in the back of your mind is a question that wakes you up at 3 a.m.: “Will I run out of money before I run out of breath?”The numbers look bleakAccording to a report by the Seniorly Resource Center, a huge crisis lurks for many older people. They found that older adults in 41 states and Washington, D.C., will outlive their money, facing an average shortfall of $115,000.…

Many resorts have turned camping into “glamping,” or glamorous camping. Glamping can offer you the chance to connect with nature while relaxing on king beds, cooling off in the AC, and enjoying the privacy of your own en-suite bath. It can be the perfect vacation for older travelers who used to enjoy camping but need a bit more comfort. Glamping can also turn a camping hater — for whom camping evokes mosquitoes and schlepping heavy packs deep into the woods — into a glamping lover.We’ve rounded up five glamping locations around the country that range from luxurious and as expensive…

For years, David Haas has been something of the unofficial Medigap expert of Franklin Lakes, N.J.That’s because whenever the financial planner’s clients reach that magic age of Medicare eligibility, they have some serious financial decisions to make about getting supplemental coverage — and don’t know where to turn.The alphabet soup of plan options, the complexity of what’s covered and what’s not, the challenge of figuring out what Future You is going to need: It’s overwhelming and confusing. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free…

Is the labor market as bad as the Federal Reserve thinks? We’ll know more on Friday, when September’s employment report is expected to shed fresh light on the economy for workers as Fed officials worry about a rise in unemployment. The jobs report leads a slew of labor market data due this week, along with updates from several Fed officials on the state of the economy. Consumer confidence, home prices, factory orders, and construction spending will also be in focus. Earnings reports from shoe seller Nike, cruise ship operator Carnival, and snack maker ConAgra Brands are due this week, along…

Earlier this year entrepreneur Mark Cuban relinquished his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks, marking the end of his 23-year reign as the team’s principal owner.Cuban, who played a pivotal role in transforming the Mavericks into one of the NBA’s top-tier teams, cited new business pursuits and family considerations as the primary reasons for the sale.In a video interaction he voiced concerns about his children potentially feeling the pressure to fill his shoes as owner amidst the intense scrutiny of the social media age. “In a social media world today, the critics of the ownership of any professional sports team can be brutal,” Cuban said. “I don’t want my kids potentially feeling the pressure to walk into my…

EUR/USD steadies after last week’s drop, supported by easing Fed cut expectations. This week’s GDP and PCE data could set the near-term direction for the pair. Buyers defend 1.1730, but momentum depends on breaking resistance near 1.1840. Looking for actionable trade ideas to navigate the current market volatility? Subscribe here to unlock access to InvestingPro’s AI-selected stock winners. Emotions around last week’s Federal Reserve are calming down, and investors are already looking ahead to the . Markets expect another rate cut of at least 25 basis points, but comments from Fed officials, including Chairman Jerome , suggest that inflation could…

Fading West modular housing development built after the Hawaii wildfires.Fading WestOwning a home is one of the pillars of the American Dream. But with a nationwide housing affordability crisis headlined by a lofty median price of a single-family home at more than $422,000, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate coming down but still relatively high, and a persistent, nationwide housing shortage of nearly four million units, that dream is out of reach for many individuals and families. Modular homebuilder Fading West is planning to be part of the solution to this wide-ranging dilemma. Founded in 2016 in Buena Vista, Colorado, the company…