Personal finance
Here’s the inflation breakdown for February 2025 — in one chart
Key Points The consumer price index rose 2.8% in February from 12 months earlier, a deceleration from January. Steel and aluminum tariffs took effect Wednesday. Economists fear that an escalating trade war could stall or reverse progress on inflation. Eggs saw by far the highest inflation rate among other categories in February. Source
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Tariffs are ‘lose-lose’ for U.S. jobs and industry, economist says: ‘There are no winners here’
Key Points President Donald Trump has pursued an economic agenda of broad tariffs on U.S. trading partners, including Canada, China and Mexico. Tariffs aim to protect targeted domestic industries. They end up costing U.S. jobs on a net basis, after accounting for retaliation and higher production costs for many businesses, economists said. Source
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DOGE layoffs may ‘overwhelm’ unemployment system for federal workers, report finds
Key Points The Trump administration — with the help of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, which the president says is headed by Elon Musk — has fired tens of thousands of federal workers. The scale of cuts will likely be flood the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) with claims and […]
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A market hedge traders use if volatility spikes and the sell-off gets worse
The Cboe Volatility Index (known as the “VIX”) measures the market’s expectation of volatility over the next 30 days as implied by a weighted strip of S & P 500 Index options. When investors are nervous, options premiums, and therefore the VIX tends to spike, reflecting heightened uncertainty. A very high reading often signals panic […]
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California pauses home energy rebate program amid Trump funding freeze
Key Points California paused an energy rebate program for consumers who make their homes more energy efficient, due to a federal funding freeze imposed by the Trump administration. The Home Energy Rebate program was created by the Inflation Reduction Act, which President Biden signed in 2022. The law offered consumers up to $8,000 of Home […]
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Canada, Mexico tariffs create ‘ripple effects’ on consumer prices, economist says
Key Points President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico on Tuesday. He put a lower 10% tariff on Canadian energy, and another 10% levy on China. Canada and Mexico are the largest trading partners of the United States. Businesses are expected to raise prices for consumer goods as a […]
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UConn star Paige Bueckers touts financial literacy as NIL boosts women’s sports
Paige Bueckers, #5 of the UConn Huskies, shoots the ball in the second half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 5, 2024. Steph Chambers | Getty Images University of Connecticut star Paige Bueckers, on the cusp of becoming […]
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Trump’s tariffs showcase his extraordinary presidential power — and its limitations
U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as he speaks with members of the media on the South Lawn before boarding Marine One at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., Feb. 28, 2025. Nathan Howard | Reuters U.S. importers and their customers are about to experience the full force of President Donald Trump’s unprecedented use of […]
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‘Reverse Robin Hood scam’ or windfall for middle class? Lawmakers debate Trump tax plan extensions
Key Points Republicans and Democrats are making competing claims about the impact of extending provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The GOP sees it as a windfall for low- and middle-income households. Democrats view it as a handout for the wealthiest Americans. Both sides can be correct depending on the frame of reference, […]
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Trump plan to freeze funding stymies Biden-era energy rebates for consumers
Key Points Some states like Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and Rhode Island have delayed phases of their Home energy Rebate programs for consumers who make their homes more energy efficient. They cited a White House freeze on federal funding that conflicts with President Donald Trump’s agenda. The rebate programs, created by the Inflation Reduction Act, aim […]
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