Personal finance

Equal Pay Day is a reminder of the persistent income inequality between men and women. As it stands, women earn just 84 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the National Women’s Law Center. “When you look at the cent number, it looks like it’s small,”

A customer shops for food at a grocery store in San Rafael, California, March 12, 2024. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images The U.S. is still grappling with higher inflation, government data released this week shows. But there are some bright spots for consumers. Inflation is lower than its 2022 peak. And

Overwhelming evidence suggests social media has a negative impact on self-esteem. That’s not only true for how people feel about their appearance and social status but also their financial wellbeing and economic standing. A new term, “money dysmorphia,” aims to describe the distorted view of their finances that nearly one-third, or 29%, of Americans say

Shoppers are seen in a Kroger supermarket in Atlanta on Oct. 14, 2022. Elijah Nouvelage | AFP | Getty Images Consumers continued to contend with higher inflation in February, according to new government data. The consumer price index — an inflation measure that tracks changes in the prices of consumer goods and services over time

Bankruptcy Court. Dayton, Ohio.  Stanrohrer | E+ | Getty Images The Biden administration’s new student loan bankruptcy policy is making it easier for borrowers to walk away from their debt in court, attorneys say. “We have gotten forgiveness for a number of clients under the new bankruptcy changes,” said Malissa Giles, a consumer bankruptcy lawyer

In this article ZG Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Skynesher | E+ | Getty Images Factors beyond high mortgage rates are affecting housing affordability for many Americans, according to experts. Almost four years ago, a household earning $59,000 annually could afford a new mortgage without spending more than 30% of their monthly income and

Woman with hands raised in the classroom Fg Trade | E+ | Getty Images President Joe Biden has proposed expanding free community college across the U.S., and other initiatives to lower higher education costs. The plans, announced Monday as part of Biden’s $7.3 trillion budget for fiscal year 2025, face slim chances of becoming law

Former U.S. President Donald Trump watches a video of President Joe Biden playing during a rally for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) at the Miami-Dade Country Fair and Exposition on November 6, 2022 in Miami, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images Former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden issued opposing

Many argue it’s harder today for young adults to make it on their own. In addition to soaring food and housing costs, millennials and Generation Z face other financial challenges their parents did not at that age. Not only are their wages lower than their parents’ earnings when they were in their 20s and 30s, after adjusting for inflation, but they

U.S. President Joe Biden stops to talk to journalists about new Russian sanctions as he departs the White House on February 20, 2024 in Washington, DC. Biden is traveling to California to attend campaign receptions across the state.  Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images Should he prevail in the upcoming presidential election, President Joe Biden, 81,

California is home to some of the highest gas prices in the United States, according to AAA. The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded was $3.40 as of Thursday, according to the organization’s data. In California, the average was $4.87, more than any other state. Several factors go into what drivers pay for

In his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden celebrated his administration’s progress in the fight against inflation. “Wages keep going up and inflation keeps coming down,” Biden said in the annual speech before Congress. To be sure, inflation has cooled while wages have ticked higher — but households are still struggling to keep up with the increased cost of living. More from Personal Finance:Why

In this article TSLA Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Elon Musk at a Tesla Motors press conference at the 2009 North American Auto Show. James Leynse | Corbis Historical | Getty Images The term “collectible vehicle” might conjure up images of an elegant convertible from the 1930s, or maybe a souped-up muscle car. But

US President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2024.  Shawn Thew | Afp | Getty Images In his State of the Union address Thursday night, President Joe Biden talked up his administration’s work to forgive the student debt

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his third State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 7, 2024. Shawn Thew | Via Reuters President Joe Biden urged lawmakers to “stand up for seniors” in his annual State of the Union address on Thursday, while pledging to

10’000 Hours | Digitalvision | Getty Images In an increasingly digital world, the specter of financial fraud looms large, especially for older adults. My experience with an 81-year-old client offers a stark illustration. While assisting “Emma” (not her real name) with email issues, I witnessed her vulnerability to scams firsthand. Despite my repeated warnings over

CostFoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images New York Community Bank has lost 7% of deposits over a turbulent month as customers pulled their money from the regional commercial bank. A new capital infusion of over $1 billion takes the NYCB off the “watch list” for another potential bank failure, according to Sheila Bair, former

Konstantin Trubavin | Cavan | Getty Images Investor psychology can be fickle. Consider this common scenario: The stock market hits a rough patch, and skittish investors bail and park their money on the sidelines, thinking it a “safer” way to ride out the storm. However, the math suggests — quite convincingly — that this is

President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 7, 2023 Pool | Getty Images Last February, thousands of seniors sent letters with the AARP to President Joe Biden ahead of his annual State of the Union address. Their message: “Urge Congress to keep their hands

Consumers as a whole are falling deeper in debt, and that has cost them. Cardholders coughed up a record-high $130 billion in credit card interest and fees in 2022, according to the latest tally from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. That was before credit card APRs moved even higher as the Federal Reserve continued raising its benchmark