Customers shop at an RC Willey home furnishings store in Draper, Utah, Aug. 28, 2023. George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty Images Inflation has pulled back significantly from its pandemic-era peak. In fact, some categories have fallen into outright deflation, meaning consumers are seeing the prices decline instead of rise. Deflation has largely occurred among physical goods … Read more
PeopleImages | E+ | Getty Images Above all else, the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid was designed to improve college access. However, problems with the rollout have left many students and their families frustrated with fewer students applying overall. As of the last tally, nearly 4 million students have submitted the 2024-25 FAFSA form so … Read more
Image Source | Image Source | Getty Images As Americans file returns this season, some worry about IRS audits amid agency efforts to ramp up service, technology and enforcement. Recent IRS enforcement has targeted high-income individuals, large corporations and complex partnerships. But everyday filers could still face an audit — and certain issues are more … Read more
JB Hi-Fi customers could get a discount on products if they simply ask. While Australians might be more accustomed to haggling when they travel overseas, those skills will come in useful after it was revealed JB bosses have told staff to “take the deal” when customers propose a discount. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Major Aussie … Read more
People shop at a home improvement store in Brooklyn on Jan. 25, 2024. Spencer Platt | Getty Images News | Getty Images Inflation declined in January and consumers’ buying power rose as price pressures for U.S. goods and services continued to ease. The consumer price index, a key inflation gauge, rose 3.1% in January relative … Read more
Credit cards are an Achilles’ heel for many people. Collectively, Americans now owe $1.13 trillion on their cards, and the average balance per consumer is up to $6,360, both historic highs. Not only are more cardholders carrying debt from month to month but more are increasingly falling behind on payments, recent reports show. “Even though dealing with $1 … Read more
US President Joe Biden arrives to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, on August 15, 2023. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images It’s never been a better time to get rid of your student debt. Although President Joe Biden’s plans to cancel up to $400 billion in student debt for … Read more
Artistgndphotography | E+ | Getty Images With tax season in full swing, the IRS has issued more than 2.6 million refunds worth about $3.65 billion, as of Feb. 2, the agency reported last week. So far, the average refund is $1,395, compared with $1,963 one year ago, which is roughly 29% smaller. However, since the … Read more
Jodi Jacobson | E+ | Getty Images More than 18 million rental units are located in areas exposed to extreme weather hazards, according to the American Rental Housing Report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. That exposure isn’t spread evenly. While most states have at least one “high-risk” county with 2,000 or more … Read more
Anna Bizon | Gallo Images Roots Rf Collection | Getty Images President Joe Biden took to social media ahead of the Super Bowl on Sunday to take a jab at snack companies that are giving consumers less food for their money. The phenomenon called shrinkflation — where consumer products become smaller in quantity, size or … Read more
