Hiring 9 to 5 One sector of the economy that has no shortage of data points is the labor market. There’s high frequency data, such as weekly initial jobless claims, and widely covered data, such as non-farm payrolls and the unemployment rate. Regardless of the data point you choose to [...]
Deep Water Streaming Royal Caribbean (RCL) is bringing SpaceX’s Starlink internet service to its fleet of ships. The cruise line, which also operates Silversea Cruises and Celebrity Cruises, says the service will officially launch this Monday. Over the summer, it was tested out with a trial program which seems to [...]
Boosting Domestic Production First Solar is the nation’s largest solar-panel maker. It just announced plans to invest $1.2 billion in an effort to boost its US manufacturing capacity by 75%. Included in that plan is a $1 billion new factory that will be built in the southeastern US, on top [...]
What’s Happening Big changes could be coming as soon as next month to the Ethereum blockchain, which fuels the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH). An event known as “the Merge” is planned, and its backers argue it could result in higher crypto prices going forward. This upgrade will transition Ethereum [...]
Any time you can get a lower rate by refinancing one or more private student loans, you might as well. A lower fixed or variable rate, especially if combined with a shorter loan repayment term, may result in substantial savings. Refinancing federal student loans may also sometimes be a smart [...]
The All-Electric Push As the auto industry continues to move away from gas-powered engines, the biggest roadblock remains batteries. Made using lithium and largely produced outside the US, EV makers continuously face a battery shortage. This has raised the price of EVs and made it difficult for firms to boost [...]
Thanks to the new federal student loan forgiveness plan announced by President Joe Biden, borrowers who earn $125,000 or less a year ($250,000 for married couples) will be eligible for $10,000 in federal student loan cancellation. Those who received federal Pell Grants, which are awarded to undergraduate students who have [...]
Don’t Overspend It’s a chaotic time of year for many families. Practices are resuming for sports and marching band, camps are ending, and Labor Day is rapidly approaching. To prepare for kids returning to class, parents are budgeting as they plan to buy new clothes, notebooks, backpacks, and laptops. Despite [...]
After a break of over two years, borrowers will restart federal student loan payments in January 2023. Before the new year arrives, it might be wise for borrowers to have a strategy for repayment. In March 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the federal government ordered the suspension of payments, [...]
Pandemic Pet Adoption During the pandemic, approximately one in five households adopted a pet. These furry companions helped many battle loneliness and isolation during quarantines and lockdowns. With that said, the new additions also amplified the need for veterinary care. During this same time period, another trend emerged. More people [...]