Skynesher | E+ | Getty Images Consumers looking to buy a new car may need to clear more room in their budgets for it. For new vehicles, the average auto loan is for 70.4 months (less than two months shy of six years) and monthly payments have climbed past $700 for the first time ever,
Personal finance
seksan Mongkhonkhamsao Personal bankruptcy filings have fallen dramatically since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, but with interest rates rising and government relief waning, filing numbers will likely pick up through this year, say experts. “I’ve had more calls in the last few weeks than the previous six months,” said Charles Juntikka, a New York-based
Despite some indications of an economic slowdown, the job market remains remarkably stable, and many workers have reaped the benefits. In fact, a record number of employees quit their jobs, found new positions and renegotiated along the way. But not everyone who joined the so-called Great Reshuffle is better off. More than a quarter —
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 27: Student loan debt holders take part in a demonstration outside of the white house staff entrance to demand that President Biden cancel student loan debt. Jemal Countess | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images A number of big changes are coming for borrowers pursuing public service loan forgiveness. That program,
Getty Images The Inflation Reduction Act, passed by House Democrats on Friday and headed to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature, is the most ambitious climate spending package in U.S. history — and households that take steps to improve their energy efficiency stand to reap financial benefits. The package would pump $369 billion into
Brothers91 | E+ | Getty Images Depending on how you get your health-care coverage, you may soon get a rebate from your insurer. An estimated 8.2 million policyholders are expected to receive a piece of $1 billion in rebates by Sept. 30 from various insurers, according to an estimate from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The
Families, parents and caregivers call on Congress to include paid family and medical leave in the Build Back Better legislative package during an all-day Nov. 2, 2021 vigil in Washington, D.C. Paul Morigi | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images Missing a week of work due to illness, child care or other obligations during Covid-19
Source: Getty Images Investors have been pouring money into high-yield bonds, which typically pay more interest for taking on greater risk. But these investments are also known as “junk bonds,” and financial experts urge caution before piling in. After a rocky start to 2022, U.S. high-yield bond funds received an estimated $6.8 billion in net
Customers shop for back-to-school supplies at a Target store in Colma, California. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images As parents know all too well, it’s hard to cut back when it comes to the kids. Despite more households living paycheck to paycheck, this year’s total back-to-school spending is expected to match last year’s
Andrew Biggs, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute American Enterprise Institute When Andrew Biggs, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, was nominated by President Joe Biden to be a member of the Social Security Advisory Board in May, it came at an important inflection point for the program. A report subsequently released by
Evgenia Tsvirko / Getty More than a third of U.S. adults are dipping into their savings accounts to help them afford higher prices, new research shows. In the face of high inflation, 36% of people say they have withdrawn an average of $617 from their savings during the first six months of this year, according
Fizkes | Istock | Getty Images Almost 2,000 consumers who were conned into paying debts they didn’t owe are in the process of getting their money returned to them. More than $1 million, or an average of $516 for each payment, is being returned to the victims either via PayPal or a mailed check, the