News
Consumer prices rose 0.3% in December, led by shelter and recreation costs
2+ hour, 32+ min ago (448+ words) Inflation picked up modestly in December, with the overall Consumer Price Index rising 0.3% for the month and 2.7% over the past year. The sharpest price increases were seen in recreation, airline fares, shelter, and food-related categories. Several key prices fell or…...
Trump shifts focus from housing to credit-card debt, dreams of a 10% interest rate
1+ day, 12+ hour ago (522+ words) After a week of market-rattling announcements aimed at lowering housing costs, President Donald Trump turned his attention to another financial pressure point for consumers: credit-card interest rates. In a social media post, Trump demanded that credit-card lenders cap interest rates…...
Fast food price creep: The chains that have gotten the most expensive
4+ day, 22+ hour ago (757+ words) Fast food isn't cheap anymore " What used to be a quick, budget meal now routinely costs $13"$20, even at chains once known for value. Price creep hit quietly " Portion sizes stayed similar, but menu prices didn't, pushing fast food into sit-down…...
Mortgage rates hit a 2025 low heading into 2026—what comes next?
1+ week, 4+ day ago (377+ words) Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) shows the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) fell to 6.15% this week." "After starting the year close to 7%, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage moved to its lowest level in 2025 this week," said Freddie…...
Consumer confidence continued to erode in December
2+ week, 6+ day ago (625+ words) Consumer confidence slid again in December, with The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index falling 3.8 points to 89.1, reflecting renewed unease despite an upward revision to November's reading after the federal government shutdown ended. Views of current conditions deteriorated sharply, as the…...
Considering just one mortgage offer could be costly
3+ week, 1+ day ago (500+ words) Nearly seven'in 10 mortgage shoppers submit only one application. A buyer can save $1,100 a year by reducing their mortgage rate 50 basis points when they purchase a typical U.S. home.' A savings of this size would have made 22,000 more homes on the market…...
Inflation is cooling, so why is there an ‘affordability crisis?’
3+ week, 5+ day ago (570+ words) Housing and insurance costs remain stubbornly high, keeping monthly bills elevated even as overall inflation cools. Food prices have stopped rising rapidly but are still far above pre-pandemic levels, stretching household budgets. Everyday services " from utilities to car repairs " continue…...
Inflation rose more slowly than expected in November
3+ week, 5+ day ago (389+ words) Inflation rose modestly in recent months, with the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increasing 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis from September to November 2025. Prices were up 2.7% over the past year, marking a slowdown from the 3.0% annual increase…...
Walmart, Pepsi accused of manipulating prices
3+ week, 5+ day ago (353+ words) Lawsuit claims Walmart received preferential wholesale prices while rivals paid more Case follows FTC's decision to drop a Robinson-Patman Act lawsuit against Pepsi PepsiCo and Walmart have been accused in a new consumer class action lawsuit of orchestrating a decade-long…...
Yes, you can negotiate most lender fees
4+ week, 1+ day ago (1194+ words) Check your credit score Get your personalized action plan and manage your credit with ease. Securing a competitive mortgage rate can mean paying tens of thousands less over the life of your loan. Understanding what's negotiable, how to benchmark your…...