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☆ 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

☆ No emergency fund? These tips can help you build savings and find extra cash in your budget, advisors say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

If you're like most people, you may not have an emergency savings fund. It's not necessarily our fault, experts say, as our brains are programmed to focus on our needs today. He and other financial advisors typically recommend having at least three to six months' living expenses set aside in case of an abrupt change in income or unexpected event. At that point, it doesn't feel like as much of a stretch to set aside 20% of your income toward retirement and 5% toward an emergency fund. Financial advisors often see this barrier to savings with their clients and have their own tactics for nudging clients to set aside more cash and free up flexibility in their budgets.

Persons: It's, We're, Brad Klontz, CNBC.com, Klontz Organizations: Finance, CNBC FA

☆ The non-profit behind Wikipedia and a crypto exchange are among the top companies for work-from-anywhere jobs, with some paying over $100,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

However, a 2023 Bankrate survey of over 2,000 adults in the US found that 64% of those already working prefer full remote work, instead of fully working in-person. Related storiesEvidently, remote work remains popular despite the pushback from companies. Companies that made the full list included cyrpto exchanges like Binance and Kraken, mobile payments firm CashApp, and Wikipedia's parent company, the Wikimedia Foundation. A director of engineering role with the Wikimedia Foundation pays between $167,046 and $260,066. Another Wikimedia Foundation role as a senior global movement communications specialist offers between $87,130 and $134,270.

Persons: —, Goldman Sachs, X, FlexJobs Organizations: Service, Business, Google, Meta, Twitter, Deloitte, Wikimedia Foundation, Media, Chainlink, Invisible Technologies, Foundation

☆ 28-year-old with a net worth over $500,000 shares 5 money habits she avoids: 'Everything can't be a little treat'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Using traditional savings accountsAllocca favors high-yield savings accounts over the traditional savings accounts typically offered by large banks, as they offer better annual interest rates. Currently, you can find high-yield savings accounts offering APRs of around 5%, while traditional accounts offer interest rates closer to 0.6%, per Bankrate's most recent data. Many online banks and credit unions offer high-yield savings accounts, so they're not hard tp come by. "All of my cash savings are in a high-yield savings account," says Allocca. "If you aren't using a high-yield savings account, make 2024 the year you open one.

Persons: Michela, She's, Allocca, They're, they've Organizations: CNBC

☆ 44% of Americans can't pay an unexpected $1,000 expense from savings. 'We're just not wired to save,' expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Brand X Pictures | Stockbyte | Getty ImagesWhy Americans are prone to 'financial fragility'Almost two-thirds of respondents, 63%, say high inflation has left less room to save for emergencies. "There's a persistence of fragility in American society," said Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate. Yet year after year, surveys show building meaningful emergency savings remains a difficult hurdle for many Americans. How to reframe how you think about savingTo successfully boost emergency savings, it may help to reframe the way you think about that goal, Klontz, said. What may help to overcome that is to visualize, which helps create an emotional experience that can help activate behavioral change.

Persons: Mark Hamrick, Hamrick, Klontz Organizations: Brand

☆ Opinion: The return to office fallacy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Opinion Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

And yet, some corporate titans are still pushing for their employees to return to their offices. Working parents, in particular, benefit from not having to waste time, money and flexibility commuting to an office. A 2023 Bankrate survey found that 74% of working women with children are in favor of remote work, while 64% of all working Americans support it. I am writing this column in Washington, DC, but work with editors in New York, London or Atlanta. So why do some bosses still feel it necessary to prolong the slow and necessary death of The Office?

Persons: Peter Bergen, CNN —, Banks, Goldman Sachs, Morgan, Jamie Dimon, ” Organizations: New, Arizona State University, Apple, Spotify, CNN, Peter Bergen CNN, titans, JPMorgan Chase, Meta, Pew Research Center, University of Chicago Locations: New America, ”, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Chicago, Mexico City, San Francisco, Washington ,, New York, London, Atlanta

☆ What student loan borrowers should know about their credit as bills restart
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

D3sign | Moment | Getty ImagesFederal student loan bills resumed in the fall after a pause of more than three years. "Negative information shouldn't be reported during the 12-month on-ramp period, but positive information should be included," Rossman said. Still, check for errors on your credit reportStudent loan borrowers should regularly check their credit reports to make sure the information is accurate, Kantrowitz said. If your loan servicer makes an error, such as reporting your loan as delinquent during the on-ramp period, you'll want to bring it to their attention quickly, he said. In this case the creditor would be your student loan servicer, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education.

Persons: Ted Rossman, Rossman, Kantrowitz, — Organizations: U.S . Department of Education Locations: Annualcreditreport.com

☆ The buy now, pay later holiday debt hangover has arrived, as consumers wonder how they'll pay bills
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

So she turned to a novel solution to get through the season: Buy now, pay later. It's tough to say how buy now, pay later fits into the country's overall debt picture. Klarna, PayPal and Affirm all declined to share buy now, pay later delinquency rates with CNBC. Affirm has said the short-term and high-velocity nature of its buy now, pay later service makes traditional credit metrics less relevant. Klarna said its global default rate for its overall business including buy now, pay later is less than 1%.

Persons: Kiki Andersen, Andersen, I've, I'm, It's, Ted Rossman, delinquencies, who've, Klarna Organizations: PayPal, CNBC, Adobe, Federal Reserve Locations: Los Angeles, U.S

☆ Kyte Baby in controversy after Marissa Hughes’ remote work request was denied, CEO apologizes
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —The CEO of Texas-based baby clothing company Kyte Baby has issued two apologies after denying a remote work request by an employee whose baby was admitted into a neonatal intensive care unit. “We work at Kyte Baby: Of course we’re going to bring our kids to work,” an employee says in one TikTok video. “We work at Kyte Baby: Of course we’re expecting,” another chimes in. Another video titled “Meet the Kyte Baby Team” introduces various Kyte Baby employees, each dancing with a child or two in tow. According to a survey published by Bankrate that same month, 77% percent of full-time working women with children under the age of 18 support hybrid work schedules, while 74% support remote work.

Persons: Kyte Baby, Kyte, Marissa Hughes, ” Hughes, Hughes, Ying Liu, “ Kyte, Liu, ”, ” Lauren Jennings, Alison Brod, James Haggerty, ” Jennings, “, ’, It’s, ” Kyte Baby, “ Marissa, Bankrate Organizations: New, New York CNN, Alison Brod Marketing, Communications, CNN, Brookings, Department, Labor’s Locations: New York, Texas, America, United States

☆ Biden administration plans to slash overdraft fees at big banks: 'I call it exploitation,' president says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Wednesday proposed a set of new rules that would slash the fees banks charge customers for withdrawing more than the available funds in their account. Americans have paid an estimated $280 billion in overdraft fees since 2000, according to data from the consumer watchdog agency. "For too long, some banks have charged exorbitant overdraft fees — sometimes $30 or more — that often hit the most vulnerable Americans the hardest, all while banks pad their bottom lines," President Joe Biden said in a statement. Overdraft fees affect some 23 million households in a given year, and the proposed cutbacks would save Americans about $3.5 billion annually, the CFPB says. Much of that money would theoretically return to the pockets of lower income bank customers: Consumer Reports says 8% of bank customers generate nearly 75% of banks' revenue from such fees.

Persons: Joe Biden Organizations: Consumer Financial, Biden, Consumer

☆ Here are two child credits parents can take advantage of this tax season
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Maskot | Maskot | Getty ImagesHow the child tax credit worksThe child tax credit is meant to help families navigating the expense of raising a child. "The intent behind the child tax credit is to give parents a bit of a break," said Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate. The child tax credit was temporarily expanded during the pandemic, but expired at the end of 2021. Now, Lawmakers are considering an $87 billion bipartisan tax agreement that could once again boost the child tax credit starting in 2023. "The child tax credit is very broadly applied," Rossman said.

Persons: Ted Rossman, Rossman Organizations: Maskot

Once the new "love interest" gains your trust, they may claim that someone close to them is sick, hurt or in jail. Another frequent lie from an online "love interest" is an offer to help invest in cryptocurrency. How to avoid romance scams: Talk to friends or family about a new love interest and pay attention if they're concerned. Don't share with a love interest any personal information, usernames, passwords or one-time codes that others can use to access your accounts or steal your identity. Employment scamsBusiness and job-related scams are another top category of financial fraud, and with companies laying off workers, these schemes are likely to continue in 2024.

Persons: —, Fraudsters, General Merrick B, Garland, Michael Bruemmer, Ted Rossman, you've, they've, it's Organizations: Istock, Getty, U.S, CNBC, FTC, cryptocurrency Locations: cryptocurrency

According to research conducted by Bankrate last August, the average overdraft fee was $26.61. The CFPB has signaled for months that it planned to curtail the collection of overdraft fees, with regulators making statements and the bureau putting out research that shows overdraft fees overwhelmingly impact the poor and households of color, who often overdraft multiple times a year. The rules spare small banks and credit unions, some of which rely disproportionately on overdraft fees. Overdraft fees have been a financial bonanza for the banking industry, with the CFPB estimating that banks collected $280 billion in overdraft fees in the last 20 years. While overdraft fees have fallen in recent years, a Bankrate survey found that 91% of bank accounts still can charge overdraft fees.

Persons: Biden, Banks, Overdraft, Joe Biden, Bankrate, ”, Rohit Chopra, rebuff, Charles Schwab Organizations: White, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Truist, Bank of America, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP

WHAT IS AN OVERDRAFT FEE? HOW CAN I AVOID INCURRING OVERDRAFT FEES? The simplest way to avoid overdraft fees is to find an account that does not charge them. Capital One and Ally Bank also offer consumers accounts that will not charge overdraft fees. Some banks call this “overdraft protection,” rather than “overdraft coverage.”WILL THE BANK EVER WAIVE OR REVERSE AN OVERDRAFT FEE?

Persons: you'll, —, Charles Schwab Organizations: Consumer, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Ally Bank, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP

☆ This underused savings tool could earn you guaranteed 5.5% interest—but you'll want to act quickly
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

With CDs, you deposit a specific amount of money for a fixed period of time — months or years — at a guaranteed rate of interest. While you can't prematurely withdraw those funds without paying a penalty, the trade-off is that CDs tend to offer higher interest rates than most savings accounts. That's much higher than the average annual percentage yield you'll find for traditional savings accounts, which was 0.57% as of Jan. 16, 2024, per Bankrate. While high-yield savings might offer APRs more comparable to CDs, you can often find CDs with slightly higher rates. Some CDs also offer higher yields than one-year Treasury bonds, which are comparably safe investments.

Persons: Gen Zers, Jay Zigmont Organizations: Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Childfree

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

☆ Personal finance guru Ramit Sethi: This common money belief could cost you 'millions of dollars'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Investing in the stock market and gambling at a casino can both theoretically make you rich — and both come with risk. But that belief could wind up costing you "literally hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars," Sethi said. The stock market has its dips, but it has always bounced back. And generally speaking, someone with money invested in the stock market will be better off in the long run than someone who just held onto their cash. So even in a "bad" year, you're probably better off having some of your money invested rather than all in savings.

Persons: Halima, Ramit Sethi, Rich, David, Sethi, they're, you've, it's Organizations: Mutual Locations: Bankrate

☆ Credit card delinquencies surpass pre-pandemic levels
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —More Americans are buckling under the weight of mounting credit card debt. The Philadelphia Fed analyzed consumer credit card and mortgage data that large banks provide to the Federal Reserve on a quarterly basis. As such, a greater share of people are revolving all or part of their credit card balance. This nearly three-year stretch of high inflation and strong consumer spending has helped to send consumer debt — especially credit card balances — ballooning. It’s typically practical matters — that surprise medical bill, unexpected home or car repair, and day-to-day expenses — that get people into credit card debt, Rossman said.

Persons: New York CNN —, Gene Huang, Anna Veksler, “, Ted Rossman, Bankrate, Rossman, “ That’s, it’s, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Fed, Federal Reserve, Philly Fed, CNN Business Locations: New York

☆ 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

☆ Consumer spending growth will slow in 2024, economist predicts — it’s ‘not necessarily sustainable’
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Consumer spending remained remarkably resilient throughout 2023, even in the face of prolonged inflation and high interest rates. "Nonetheless, those tailwinds are not necessarily sustainable," Kleinhenz said in the January issue of NRF's Monthly Economic Review, released Tuesday. Americans are racking up more 'phantom debt'56 million Americans have been in credit card debt for over a yearRecent reports already show signs of strain. In the last year, credit card debt spiked to a record high, surpassing $1.08 trillion, according to the latest quarterly report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Now, more cardholders are carrying debt from month to month and fewer are able to pay off their balances in full.

Persons: Jack Kleinhenz, Kleinhenz, Mark Hamrick Organizations: National Retail Federation, Finance, Federal Reserve Bank of New Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

☆ It's our fault you feel bad about the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The media has been more negative about the economy than the underlying data would suggest, a new study found. The tone of economy stories since 2018 doesn't match variables such as GDP, inflation, and unemployment. This may have fueled a disconnect between how the economy performs and how people think it's performing. Meanwhile, a December Bankrate study found that 59% of US adults feel the economy is in a recession. Still, many Americans feel better about their local economy than the national economy.

Persons: —, us, Brookings, Will Stancil, Stancil Organizations: Service, Brookings, San, San Francisco Federal Reserve's, University of Michigan Consumer, University of Minnesota Locations: San Francisco Federal

☆ Americans are racking up more 'phantom debt' — why that's a problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-07 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Buy now, pay later is now one of the fastest-growing categories in consumer finance, according to a separate report by Wells Fargo. "It's hard to know how much of this debt is out there," said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate. However, managing multiple buy now, pay later loans with different payment dates can also be a challenge, Quinlan added. "BNPL could lead to an increase in consumer debt, as consumers may be more likely to take on additional debt if they know they can spread out the payments," he said. watch nowWhile the typical terms might break a purchase into four equal interest-free payments, not all buy now, pay later loans work that way.

Persons: Wells, Tim Quinlan, Quinlan, Ted Rossman, Max Levchin, Rossman Organizations: Wells, Finance Locations: Wells Fargo

☆ 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

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