Fewer Americans now fear catching COVID-19 than at any point since the start of the pandemic, according to a new survey. Only 35% of U.S. adults reported they are very or somewhat worried about contracting COVID-19, according to Gallup. It’s the lowest level of concern since last April. Additionally, nearly …
Read More »Personal Finance Daily: Mortgage rates soar to the highest level in nearly six months and 6 million people aren’t eligible for a COVID-19 pause on student-debt payments
Hi there, MarketWatchers. Don’t miss these top stories: Personal Finance ‘I will continue happily shopping there forever’: Costco customers react to retailer’s new $ 16 minimum wage Some 180,000 U.S.-based Costco employees will begin earning $ 16 an hour starting next week, the warehouse retailer’s CEO announced Thursday. We put …
Read More »Economic Report: Consumer confidence tumbles in December to lowest level since lockdown
The numbers: Consumer confidence stumbled for the second straight month in December, hitting its lowest level since during the worst of the cornavirus lockdowns in May. The index of consumer confidence fell to 88.6 this month from a revised 92.9 in November, the Conference Board said Tuesday. Economists polled by …
Read More »Economic Report: U.K. debt-to-GDP reaches highest level since 1961
Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak talks with staff as he visits a Jobcentre Plus in Barking, east London on July 16, 2020. anthony upton/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images Britain has racked up debt as its economy has cratered, sending its debt-to-GDP ratio to the highest level since 1961, according to …
Read More »Michael Sincere’s Long-Term Trader: It’s safe to buy stocks when the S&P 500 is above this level, but now is not the time
I’ve been getting a flood of emails from acquaintances eager to buy digital currencies, calendar spreads (a complex options strategy), foreign currencies, penny stocks, and any company that claims to cure the virus. In a bear market environment, when investors are understandably nervous, get-rich-quick investments will be peddled on the …
Read More »5 Ways to Take Your Home’s Curb Appeal to the Next Level
A home that has curb appeal is visually pleasing. Real estate agents emphasize the importance of curb appeal when selling properties because the exterior of the home shapes people’s impressions of the house. Whether you’re planning to sell your home or just want to have the nicest property on the …
Read More »Economic Report: Home permits soar to highest level in 13 years in January, even as new construction dips slightly
The numbers: Builders started construction on new homes in the U.S. at a pace of 1.57 million in January, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. This represented a 3.6% decrease from a revised 1.63 million in December, but was 21.4% higher than a year ago. Permitting activity, however, hit yet another …
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