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☆ 'The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is a uniquely American construct,' analyst says. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Most U.S. homebuyers taking out a mortgage opt for a 30-year fixed-rate — but they may not realize how unusual that offering is. "The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is a uniquely American construct," said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate. True to its name, a 30-year fixed spreads out repayment over 30 years, with an interest rate that remains the same for the life of the loan. In 2022, 89% of homebuyers applied for a 30-year mortgage, according to government data analyzed by Homebuyer.com. "If we did not have the dominance of the fixed-rate mortgage in the U.S. residential mortgage market, we would see a much higher level of stress among existing homeowners," McBride said.

Persons: Greg McBride, Jacob Channel, McBride Organizations: homebuyers, Bankrate, LendingTree, Homebuyer.com, Finance Locations: U.S

☆ Americans were paid an additional $235 billion in interest in 2023, thanks to the Fed
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

High-yield savings accountsThe average interest rate on regular bank savings accounts is roughly 0.5% but can run as low as 0.01% at the biggest banks. By contrast, the average on high-yield savings accounts is well over 4%, according to DepositAccounts.com. If you leave it parked in a regular savings account at 0.5%, you’ll get $50 in interest for a year. As with any savings account, banks can lower the rate they offer — also known as the APY — at any time. Money market accounts and money market fundsAlthough money market deposit accounts and money market mutual funds are both generating yields competitive with the best high-yield savings accounts, there are important differences.

Persons: —, It’s, ”, Greg McBride, you’ll, McBride, “, ” McBride, Ben Bakkum, Collin Martin, Martin Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, FDIC, National Credit Union Share Insurance, Securities Investor Protection Corporation, Treasury, Fed, Schwab Center, Financial Research Locations: New York, Schwab.com, United States

☆ Stock market today: Indexes mixed after Fed meeting as Powell calms nerves over possible hike
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Central bankers chose to keep interest rates steady, and Powell said a rate hike was "unlikely." Fed officials chose to keep interest rates unchanged, in line with the market's expectations. Investors have been fretting over higher interest rates as inflation came in hotter-than-expected throughout the first quarter. The odds of a Fed rate hike in June are less than 1%. Calling that out in the first paragraph is tantamount to saying that interest rate cuts are not coming soon."

Persons: Powell, —, Greg McBride, Bankrate, Charlie Ripley Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Nasdaq, Fed, Allianz Investment Management

☆ The Fed once again holds interest rates steady — with cuts expected later this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe nation's central bank offered no surprises in its latest interest rate decision. On Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee announced that it would be holding interest rates steady, continuing the pause on rates that began in September. While the FOMC projected three interest rate cuts for 2024, inflation is not quite where the Fed needs it to be. "It looks to me like he's trying to lower interest rates for the sake of maybe getting people elected," Trump said. "Inflation has continued to run hot and there is no compelling need for the Fed to cut interest rates until they're comfortable with where inflation is headed," Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate, said in a statement.

Persons: —, It's, Jerome Powell, Powell, Donald Trump, Trump, Greg McBride Organizations: Service, Federal, Market Committee, Federal Reserve, Business, Fox News, Street Journal, Trump, Fed Locations: Washington

☆ 'It's a good time to lock in,' expert says. What to know to get the best rates on your cash now
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Higher interest rates may be here to stay for a while longer, thanks to persistent inflation. That's good news for cash savers, who have the best opportunity to earn returns on their money in 15 years. To secure today's high rates, individuals may turn to CDs, Treasury bills and Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, or TIPs. Series I bonds — a U.S. government savings bond aimed at providing inflation protection — will pay 4.28% for the next six months, the Treasury Department announced Tuesday. Yet 67% of Americans are earning interest rates below that threshold, according to a recent Bankrate survey.

Persons: What's, Greg McBride, McBride Organizations: Securities, Treasury Department, Finance Locations: U.S

☆ Sorry, America, it's looking like higher interest rates are going to stick around longer
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Federal Reserve is expected to once again hold interest rates steady on Wednesday. Some predictions also do not forecast any interest rate cuts until the second half of the year. AdvertisementIt's probably still not time for the nation's central bank to cut interest rates just yet. AdvertisementGiven that inflation is still above the Fed's 2% target, it's looking like rate cuts might not come until the second half of 2024. "Inflation has continued to run hot and there is no compelling need for the Fed to cut interest rates until they're comfortable with where inflation is headed."

Persons: Powell, —, It's, Julia Pollak, Jerome Powell, Gregory Daco, Greg McBride Organizations: Federal, Service, Fed Locations: Washington

☆ 29% of households have jobs but struggle to cover basic needs: They are 'one emergency from poverty,' one expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Stubborn inflation has driven many households near the breaking point, but the pain of high prices has not been shared equally. By most measures, low-income households have been hardest hit, experts say. The Federal Reserve responded with a series of interest rate hikes that took its benchmark rate to its highest level in more than 22 years. The spike in interest rates caused most consumer borrowing costs to skyrocket, putting many households under pressure. Inflation continues to prove stickier than expected, dashing hopes that the Fed will be able to cut interest rates anytime soon.

Persons: ALICE, Brett House, Greg McBride, we've, Jerome Powell, Hoopes Organizations: Columbia Business School, Federal, Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics

☆ Big banks are touting sweet CD yields in excess of 5%. Where you can find them
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"From our experience, the brokered CD market is more competitive," said Richard Carter, vice president of fixed income products and services at Fidelity. Like traditional CDs, brokered CDs are offered in different maturities. For instance, JPMorgan's one-year CD, with its 5.4% yield, can be called as early as Oct. 30, according to Fidelity's website. With a brokered CD, you'll have to sell it on the secondary market — and you may lose some of your principal. Depending on your time frame, you may consider a one-year ladder with CD maturities three months apart, a two-year ladder with CD maturities six months apart, or a five-year ladder, with maturities one year apart, he said.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Schwab, Richard Carter, Carter, you'll, there's, Morgan, Greg McBride, It's, McBride, staggers maturities Organizations: JPMorgan, Fidelity Investments, Bank of America, Fidelity, Vanguard, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Bank of America Locations: U.S

☆ New data shows inflation is still high. Here's how to measure how that affects you
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

That may not be a surprise to consumers who are still feeling the weight of higher prices. Inflation — as measured by the consumer price index — rose 3.5% from a year ago and 0.4% for the month. The consumer price index, or CPI, tracks the average changes in prices over time for consumer certain goods and services. Consequently, if your wages haven't increased by that much over the same period, you're more likely to feel the pinch of higher prices. About 60% of households are living paycheck to paycheck, McBride said.

Persons: Kazuhiro Nogi, Brett House, Eugenio Aleman, Raymond James, Aleman, Greg McBride, McBride Organizations: Afp, Getty Images, Columbia Business School, Consumers, Bankrate Locations: Tokyo

☆ Cost of gas and housing pushed up US inflation in March
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Gas and shelter costs contributed more than half of that monthly increase, according to the BLS. Economists were expecting a 0.3% monthly increase and an annual rate of 3.4%, according to FactSet consensus estimates. The Fed has been wanting to see meaningful progress on inflation before it starts cutting rates. Excluding gas and food prices, categories that tend to be more volatile, core inflation rose 0.4% from the month before, bringing the annual rate to 3.8%, the same as February’s reading. Economists had anticipated a 0.3% monthly gain and for the annual rate to inch lower to 3.7%, according to FactSet.

Persons: ” Greg McBride, Bankrate, Economists Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS

☆ The Federal Reserve may not cut interest rates just yet, here's what that means for your money
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"Interest rates took the elevator going up; they are going to take the stairs coming down," he said. Annual percentage rates will start to come down when the Fed cuts rates but even then, they will only ease off extremely high levels. "The reality of it is, a lot of borrowers are paying double-digit interest rates on those right now," McBride said. Federal student loansFederal student loan rates are also fixed, so most borrowers aren't immediately affected by the Fed's moves. But undergraduate students who take out new direct federal student loans are now paying 5.50% — up from 4.99% in the 2022-23 academic year and 3.73% in 2021-22.

Persons: Chris Wattie, Greg McBride, McBride, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's, that's, Ivan Drury, Edmunds, Drury Organizations: Reuters, Treasury, Fed Locations: Edmunds

☆ Premarket stocks: The rent is too damn high. It’s keeping interest rates elevated, too
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

In short, the rent is too damn high — and it’s keeping inflation and interest rates elevated alongside it. We’ll see if they’re right on Tuesday morning when February’s CPI data is due out. “Shelter inflation has been a big focal point for the market,” they wrote in a note on Monday. “We remain confident that [rent prices] will flatline in 2024, rather than fall,” Capital Economics analyst Thomas Ryan wrote in a recent note. That means a current deceleration in rent prices won’t be fully factored into inflation data until February 2025.

Persons: Greg McBride, ”, Jerome Powell, “ It’s, Powell, aren’t, “, Thomas Ryan, Ritti Singh, Singh, won’t, isn’t, Goldman Sachs, Clare Duffy, Reddit, it’s, That’s, Matt Egan, Joe Biden, Bespoke’s Paul Hickey, ” Hickey Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, CPI, Bank of America, ” Capital, Housing Justice, Fed, Dallas Fed, AAA, Federal, Investment Locations: New York

☆ Credit card interest rates are at record highs. Cards have 'never been this expensive,’ CFPB says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The share of consumers with "subprime" credit scores who hold a credit card has been "relatively stable," they said. Major credit card issuers got $25 billion in extra interest by raising their average APR margin over the last 10 years, the CFPB estimated. "Higher APR margins have allowed credit card companies to generate returns that are significantly higher than other bank activities." They're among the nation's biggest credit card issuers. How to manage credit card interest

Persons: Martinez, Seikel, Lindsey Johnson, Greg McBride, McBride, That's Organizations: Bank, Getty, Consumer Bankers Association, CBA, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Financial, Discover Financial Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

☆ Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, sets the stage for cuts. What that means for your money
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Greg McBride chief financial analyst at Bankrate"Below the surface, 60% of households are living paycheck to paycheck," McBride said. Now, with rate cuts on the horizon, consumers will see some of their borrowing costs come down as well, although deposit rates will also follow suit. From credit cards and mortgage rates to auto loans and savings accounts, here's a look at where those rates could go in the year ahead. Going forward, annual percentage rates will start to come down when the Fed cuts rates but even then, they will only ease off extremely high levels. Mortgage ratesDue to higher mortgage rates, 2023 was the least affordable homebuying year in at least 11 years, according to a report from real estate company Redfin.

Persons: Greg McBride, McBride, Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae, It's, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds Organizations: Treasury, Fed Locations: Edmunds

☆ Where to lock down high interest rates for your savings
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

High-yield online savings accountsThe average annual percentage yield on bank savings accounts was just 0.57% on January 30, according to a Bankrate survey. But many online FDIC-insured banks are still offering 5% or more on their high-yield savings accounts. As with any bank savings rate, high-yield savings account rates can change overnight, and the bank may not alert you when it lowers it. But don’t confuse money market accounts with money market mutual funds, which invest in short-term, low-risk debt instruments. Unlike money market deposit accounts, money market mutual funds are not insured by the FDIC.

Persons: Doug Ornstein, Schwab, “, ”, Greg McBride, Ken Tumin, you’d, Tumin, Wells Fargo, Andy Smith, Ornstein, doesn’t, ” Smith Organizations: New York CNN, Federal Reserve, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, TIAA Wealth Management, FDIC, Securities Investor Protection Corp, Fidelity, DepositAccounts.com, Treasury, Edelman, AAA Locations: New York, United States

☆ How interest rates have changed over the last 12 months for mortgages, car loans, credit cards and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Gabriel Cortés | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"Interest rates took the elevator going up; they're going to take the stairs coming down," McBride said. As the Fed goes into its first Federal Open Market Committee meeting of 2024, here's what that elevator ride up has looked like over the last 12 months in five major consumer categories: credit cards, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, auto loans and mortgages. Credit cardsNowhere has that express rate elevator been more obvious than with credit cards. Even as the Fed slowed the pace of increases over the last 12 months, the average APR for credit cards rose more than a full percentage point. He cautions, however, that buying a car is still a major expense, regardless of what interest rates are.

Persons: Greg McBride, McBride, they've, " McBride, They've, you've Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve, Finance Locations: U.S

☆ Americans are getting closer to an interest rate cut — but it probably won't happen in the Fed's next big decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThe nation's central bank is gearing up to make its first big decision of 2024 — and while it likely won't be the interest rate cut many Americans are hoping for, it's set to bring them closer to that relief. The Fed hinted at how many interest rate cuts Americans can expect this year in its December Summary of Economic Projections. New labor market data out this Friday will show how employment looked at the start of 2024, and some labor market experts already think 2024 will see a cooler job market . That continuing strength in the labor market does represent a slowdown from the hot post-pandemic recovery in 2022. "The Fed has already signaled its willingness to cut rates, and the market has responded accordingly," the lawmakers wrote.

Persons: —, it's, Jerome Powell, Powell, Nick Bunker, would've, Greg McBride, David Kelly, Kelly, Elizabeth Warren, John Hickenlooper, Jacky Rosen, Sheldon Whitehouse Organizations: Service, Business, Federal, Federal Reserve, Spelman College, Labor Statistics, Fed, North America, Morgan Asset Management, Democratic Locations: Sens

NEW YORK (AP) — The squabble over billion of dollars in overdraft fees that Americans get charged every year is intensifying. While banks have drastically cut back on overdraft fees in the past decade, the nation's biggest banks still take in roughly $8 billion in overdraft fees every year, according to data from the CFPB and bank public records. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesBanks charge a customer an overdraft fee if their bank account balance falls below zero. What started off as a courtesy offered to some customers, the popularity of debit cards beginning in the 1990s led to Americans wracking up tens of billions of dollars in overdraft fees. While big banks have cut back on overdraft fees, smaller banks have not, and a number of them heavily rely on overdrafts to be profitable, industry analysts said.

Persons: Biden, “ It's, Joe Biden, “, Greg McBride, ”, Aaron Klein, ” Klein, Rohit Chopra, ” Chopra, Chopra, Barack Obama, Carter Dougherty, overdrafts, can’t Organizations: Consumer Financial, Biden Administration, Federal Trade Commission, Bank of America, Banking, Bankrate, Brookings Institution, Armed Forces Bank, Republican, Trump Administration, American Bankers Association, Financial Reform

☆ Inflation ticks back up as housing prices stay stubbornly high
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The consumer price index increased by 3.4% from December 2022 to December 2023. The year-over-year CPI increase was expected to be 3.2% for December. After CPI rose by 0.1% month over month in November when looking at the seasonally adjusted change, CPI rose by 0.3% from November to December — just above the forecast of 0.2%. Core CPI, excluding volatile food and energy prices, increased by 3.9% after a 4.0% year-over-year increase in November. Meanwhile, the shelter index rose by 0.5% month over month in December, slightly higher than the month-over-month increases seen in October and November.

Persons: —, Greg McBride, Jerome Powell, Powell, we're Organizations: Service, of Labor Statistics, CPI, BLS, Federal Reserve

☆ Mortgages, auto loans, credit cards: Expert predictions for interest rates in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"We are in a high interest rate environment, and we're going to be in a high interest rate environment a year from now," he said. Prediction: Mortgage rates decline to 5.75%Thanks to higher mortgage rates, 2023 was the least affordable homebuying year in at least 11 years, according to a report from real estate company Redfin. McBride also expects mortgage rates to continue to ease in 2024 but not return to their pandemic-era lows. Prediction: Auto loan rates edge down to 7%When it comes to their cars, more consumers are facing monthly payments that they can barely afford, thanks to higher vehicle prices and elevated interest rates on new loans. "It will still be a banner year for savers when those returns are measured against a lower inflation rate," McBride said.

Persons: Tim Quinlan, Greg McBride, McBride, Bankrate Organizations: Finance, Fed, CNBC PRO, CNBC, YouTube Locations: Wells Fargo

Here are 6 signals investment bankers are watching as they pray for an M&A rebound in 2024. By contrast, activity from private equity firms "was off almost 40%," he said. In 2021, private equity firms transacted $1.5 trillion across 2,869 deals, according to Dealogic. Last year, private equity M&A made up 40% of total activity, according to Goldman Sachs. AI companies, many of which are only now being formed, need to mature, and the winners and losers need to come into focus, bankers said.

Persons: Wall, LSEG, Goldman Sachs, Vito Sperduto, Sperduto, we've, Stephan Feldgoise, Hess, Anthony J, Carfang, Cash, Goldman, Goldman's Feldgoise, Feldgoise, Mark Sorrell, I'm, Harold M, Lambert, Jerome Powell, Greg McBride, McBride, Jonathan Gray, dealmaking, Gray, Rob Chisholm, Chisholm Organizations: Fed, London Stock Exchange, Business, RBC Capital Markets, Conference Board, Conference, Federal, Goldman, Federal Reserve, Private, Bankers, DOJ, FTC, Federal Reserve Board, Bankrate, of Labor Statistics, Cisco, LSEG, Qatalyst Partners, Citi, & $ Locations: LSEG, Ukraine

☆ UBS projects inflation is coming to an end, but that's 'little comfort to households,' chief financial analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The prolonged period of high inflation may finally be coming to an end, according to an analysis of recent data by UBS global wealth management. In October, the consumer price index, a closely followed inflation gauge, increased 3.2% from 12 months earlier, down from 3.7% in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Tuesday. The report marked a significant improvement on the pandemic-era peak of 9.1% in June 2022. “By next spring, inflation will have slowed to a comfortable level for both the Fed and investors,” said Solita Marcelli, chief investment officer of the Americas for UBS Wealth Management. “The strain on household budgets is real.”

Persons: ”, Solita Marcelli, Greg McBride Organizations: UBS, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, Fed, Americas, UBS Wealth Management, Finance

☆ Prices rise slower than expected, but there's still a 'long way to go' in taming inflation, financial expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Price growth is slowing, but high inflation could still persist through most of 2024 and beyond. Inflation dropped from a year-over-year rate of 3.7% to 3.2% in October, according to the latest consumer price index report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Tuesday morning. Perhaps more importantly, core inflation — which excludes volatile food and energy prices — dropped from 0.3% in September to 0.2% in October, which was lower than expected. At an annualized rate of 2.4%, core inflation is trending closer to the Federal Reserve's overall year-over-year target rate of 2%. "We still have a long way to go" before core inflation is under control, Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, tells CNBC Make It.

Persons: That's, Kurt Rankin, Greg McBride Organizations: U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics Tuesday, Federal, PNC Financial Services Group, CNBC

☆ Stocks surge as inflation falls more than expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Minneapolis CNN —US consumer price inflation cooled down in October after rising for the last two months. The moderation in inflation was even more than expected, sending US stocks sharply higher and providing a touch more solace to Americans who have dealt with painfully high prices the past two years. On a monthly basis, prices were unchanged for the first time since July 2022. Energy prices dropped in October; however, that was offset by the continued rise of shelter costs, according to the report. “The continued moderation of inflation will help keep the Federal Reserve on the sidelines,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, in a statement.

Persons: Dow, “, ”, Greg McBride Organizations: Minneapolis CNN, of Labor Statistics, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, ”, CPI Locations: Minneapolis

☆ Average credit card balances top $6,000, a 10-year high, as delinquencies rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Americans now owe $1.08 trillion on their credit cards, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Tuesday. Credit card rates spiked more than 5% with the Federal Reserve's recent string of 11 rate hikes, including four in 2023. As the federal funds rate rose, the prime rate did, as well, and credit card rates followed suit. "Americans are addicted to credit cards, no question," said Howard Dvorkin, a certified public accountant and the chairman of Debt.com. How to tackle costly credit card debt

Persons: TransUnion, Charlie Wise, Wise, Greg McBride, Howard Dvorkin, Debt.com Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of New, New York Fed, TransUnion, Federal, Finance, Bankrate, Debt.com Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, TransUnion

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