Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways President Trump unveiled a slew of new tariffs, including 100% levies on pharmaceuticals imports, though he exempted drug firms already building plants in the U.S.He also announced levies on heavy trucks, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and upholstered furniture, widely expanding industry-focused levies he has put in place since taking office this year. President Donald Trump unveiled a slew of new tariffs that include 100% levies on imported pharmaceuticals imports, though he exempted drug firms that are building plants in the U.S.  Trump also announced levies on heavy trucks, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and upholstered furniture, expanding industry-focused levies…

Key Takeaways Forecasters expect inflation to accelerate in the last part of the year as more companies pass the costs of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on to customers.A survey of professional forecasters called for a the Consumer Price Index to rise 3% over the year in the fourth quarter, an acceleration from 2.9% in August.Some economists expect inflation to peak in December and then fade in 2026 as tariff-related price hikes cease. Economists expect inflation to keep climbing in the fourth quarter, as President Donald Trump’s tariffs continue to push up prices for everyday goods.Most mainstream forecasts call for inflation…

Key Takeaways Big-picture optimism regarding Elon Musk’s commitment, AI and robotaxis has helped pull shares of Tesla higher this month. That also has several Wall Street analysts playing catch-up with their price targets. Some investors, however, may return their attention to the company’s EV business next week, when third-quarter deliveries figures are expected to land. Wall Street analysts have largely been behind as Tesla’s stock has raced higher. They’re starting to catch up. The EV maker’s shares have been hot lately, rising some 27% this month alone through Thursday’s close around $423. (They’re up about 2% in Friday trading; read…

Paccar Stock Surges as Trump Announces Tariff on Heavy Truck Imports 47 minutes ago Shares of Paccar, the parent of Peterbilt, remain negative on the year. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images Paccar (PCAR) led the Nasdaq and was one of the top-performing stocks in the S&P 500 around midday after President Trump announced a tariff on imports of heavy trucks. Shares of the Bellevue, Wash.-based trucking firm, which owns the Peterbilt and Kenworth Brands, surged 5% in recent trading. Despite today’s advance, Paccar shares remain down about 3.5% this year. Caffeine in Sprays and Smoothies? You Can Thank…

Key Takeaways AI data center developer Fermi America filed earlier this week to go public as a real estate investment trust, a form of equity that differs in important ways from other stock investments.Data center REITs, despite being key facilitators of the AI boom, have not delivered the kind of eye-watering stock market returns of other AI infrastructure investments. Long contract durations, dividend requirements, and interest rate sensitivity are some of the reasons AI-exposed REITs haven’t taken off. Wall Street is getting a buzzy new AI data center stock soon, but investors looking for Nvidia-like returns may want to look…

For many retirees, the home they’ve lived in for decades isn’t just a place to live. It’s the single largest asset in their financial portfolio.In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, households that own their homes have a median wealth of about 44 times that of renter households, largely because of home equity. If your retirement savings feel a little tight, your house may hold untapped potential.But how and when you use that equity matters. Should you sell and downsize? Take out a loan? Rent part of it? Or simply hold it for your heirs? Here’s how to turn…

Traveling as an active senior can be incredibly rewarding, offering you the chance to explore new destinations, stay physically fit, and create lasting memories. But what if you could do all that without draining your wallet?For many older adults, staying on a budget is a real concern, especially with fears of not having enough savings for retirement. A 2025 AARP national poll found that while 70% of seniors plan to travel, 45% cite cost as the biggest barrier.Although this may be true, with careful and creative planning, you can still enjoy exciting adventures on a budget. Here are the 10…

On Thursday, Amazon agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for a total of $2.5 billion. The settlement is one of the largest in FTC history, with $1 billion going toward civil penalties and $1.5 billion going out to Amazon customers.The lawsuit centered on what the FTC described as “manipulative, coercive, or deceptive user-interface designs” that “trick” consumers into joining Amazon Prime and make it difficult or confusing to cancel the automatically renewing membership program. As part of the settlement, Amazon denies any wrongdoing.If you’ve ever accidentally joined Amazon Prime or enrolled without realizing that…

Passive income has become a buzzword in recent years. The idea sounds perfect — money rolling in while you do nothing. But in reality, it’s no magic pill. Most passive income streams require significant upfront work or investment before the rewards show up.That’s one reason why passive income tends to benefit the ultra-wealthy over the long term. For the average investor, it usually means putting in time, money or both, and waiting years before returns become meaningful.Take rental property, for example. Renovating or advertising for tenants can take months of effort. Once that’s done, the income may feel relatively hands-off,…

Google is constantly upgrading how we get information, and one of its most popular features is the Top Stories section that appears above search results. For years, users had little say in which outlets were featured, and it was all up to Google’s algorithm. That meant your Top Stories might show a mix of sources you trust alongside others you’d rather not read.But that’s changing. Google now gives you the ability to choose which outlets you want to prioritize. Whether you rely on Kiplinger for personal finance insights or the Associated Press for breaking news, you can tell Google directly:…