Category: personal finance

IN-DEPTH: Inflation Still Too High for Fed to Start Lowering Rates, Experts Say

May 10, 2023
Business & Marketseconomyinflationinterest ratesjerome powellMarketspersonal financerecessionUS
0 Comment

The latest inflation numbers are a mixed bag, accelerating sharply in monthly terms though easing a little in annual terms, with experts largely saying that the data remains too hot for the Federal Reserve (Fed) to start dropping interest rates. However, a pause in the rate-hiking cycle could be in the cards. While the annual…

Read More

Seven Retailers Facing Fiscal Challenges

May 10, 2023
bankruptcyBrightbudgetingBusiness & MarketsCompanieseconomyinflationpersonal financeretailers
0 Comment

In 2022, retail sales were hammered by persistent high inflation and weak consumer demand—and 2023 isn’t much better. Economists from S&P Global Market anticipate only 0.5 percent sales growth, but that equals a 0.1 percent decline when accounting for inflation. Some retailers feel the pinch more than others and have begun closing stores. Even worse,…

Read More

Your Social Security Payments Outside the US

May 10, 2023
BrightFixed IncomeLiving abroadpersonal financeretirementSocial Security
0 Comment

As I write this, my wife and I are about to leave on a one-month trip to England. This has been one of our “bucket list” plans for a long time now. We’ve been back and forth to Europe about a half dozen-times over the years. But most of those trips were of the “if…

Read More

New Tax on Farmers Will Send Food Cost Soaring, Sector Warns

May 9, 2023
AustraliaAustralia budget 2023Australian farmersBusiness & MarketsDavid Littleproudeconomypersonal financeWorld
0 Comment

Farmers are warning the federal Labor government that its decision to ignore the sector and increase taxes on producers will force up the price of food, pushing the cost of living even higher. This comes as the federal government announced in the budget that it will introduce a new 10 percent levy on all domestic agricultural,…

Read More

New Tax on Australian Farmers Will Send Food Costs Soaring, Sector Warns

May 9, 2023
AustraliaAustralia budget 2023Australian farmersBusiness & MarketsDavid Littleproudeconomypersonal financeWorld
0 Comment

Farmers are warning the federal Labor government that its decision to ignore the sector’s suggestions and increase taxes on domestic producers will force up the price of food, pushing the cost of living for Australians even higher. This comes as the federal government announced in its budget released Tuesday that proposes introducing a new 10…

Read More

Closing Prices for Crude Oil, Gold and Other Commodities (May 9)

May 9, 2023
Benchmark U.S. crude oilBrightBusiness & MarketsgoldGold and CommoditiesinvestingMarketspersonal finance
0 Comment

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for June delivery rose 55 cents to $73.71 a barrel Tuesday. Brent crude for July delivery rose 43 cents to $77.44 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline for June delivery rose 2 cents $2.48 a gallon. June heating oil rose 1 cent $2.39 a gallon. June natural gas rose 3 cents to $2.27…

Read More

How to Move from Overspending to Spending Less

May 9, 2023
Brightbudgetingpersonal financeplanningsaving moneyspending
0 Comment

Even the mention of words like “frugality” and “thrift” send some people over the edge because for them, those words conjure up thoughts of poverty and deprivation. They assume that cutting costs is tantamount to diving into dumpsters to find one’s next meal. No wonder so many people prefer a life of debilitating debt to…

Read More

Tips for Homebuyers

May 9, 2023
BrightBuydowndown paymentinvestingmortgagepersonal financereal estate
0 Comment

By Daniel Bortz From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Home prices are expected to remain flat or even fall in 2023. Still, prices are lofty. And if you’re in the market for a home, here are some tips to keep costs down. Look into mortgages with low down-payment requirements. The average down payment across the nation’s 50…

Read More

Americans Suffering Sharply Higher Levels of Financial Anxiety

May 9, 2023
Business & Marketseconomic policieseconomyfinancial anxietyinflationmental healthpersonal financerecessionUSUS News
0 Comment

Many Americans say they are suffering sharply from higher levels of financial anxiety as the economy takes a downturn. Money is now the prime cause of stress for most Americans, according to May 8 survey by Bankrate. At least 52 percent of respondents reported that personal finances have had a negative impact on their mental health,…

Read More