Topline Despite strong jobs data earlier in the week, employers in October announced the most job cuts in a single month since February 2021 as a growing number of executives anticipate an economic do...
Tag: Labor
Labor costs show slower rise, while trade deficit widens and jobless claims nudge lower
The cost of labor rose less than expected, but low productivity helped keep the pressure on inflation in the third quarter, according to Labor Department data released Thursday. Unit labor costs, a me...
Fed approves another jumbo interest-rate hike but also signals go-slower strategy
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday approved the fourth straight jumbo increase in a key U.S. interest rate and signaled rates are likely to go higher than previously forecast. Yet the central bank also ...
40% of households will pay no federal income tax this year. Why that’s good news.
Millions of workers are bouncing back — and making enough money to pay Uncle Sam. Some 72.5 million households or 40% of households will pay no federal income tax this year, down from the pre-pandemic...
When retirement is a month away, here’s what you need to do
When retirement is coming up close—and you have that exciting date in mind—make sure you have everything organized to make it a seamless, enjoyable transition. Retirement Tip of the Week: Before you ...
Why retirement calculators fail the people who need them most — and what to do about it
Or were you so overwhelmed by the steps and questions that you only increased the amount you were saving by a little bit — or not at all? If you fall into the latter category, don’t feel bad. A new st...
Opinion: Your HSA can be an extra retirement savings — how to make smart choices during open enrollment
It’s open enrollment season, which means it’s time for most workers to choose benefits for the year ahead. Health insurance is one of the most popular benefits that workers review yearly, but there is...
Another jumbo Fed rate hike is expected next week — and then life gets difficult for Powell
First the easy part. Economists widely expect Federal Reserve monetary-policy makers to approve a fourth straight jumbo interest-rate rise at its meeting next week. A hike of three-quarters of a perce...
‘When we dated for 5 years, he implied he was financially secure’: My husband was always hesitant about his finances. Now I know why.
Dear Quentin, My husband and I make about the same salary, and live modestly. Six months after we married, I found out my husband’s net worth is virtually zero. He owes more money than he has assets (...
Intel Stock Gains as Guidance Disappoints. Layoffs Are Coming.
Intel plans significant cost cuts , including a “meaningful number” of layoffs, its CFO said as the chip maker detailed its financial results and forecast revenue that was much lower than Wall Street ...
Americans think they need $1.25 million to retire. Is that even enough?
Americans think they need $1.25 million to retire comfortably, new research suggests, but while that number may seem hefty — it still may not be enough. A study from Northwestern Mutual released this ...
Millions of working Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck — and running out of cash as another recession looms
Inflation is taking its toll on people’s emergency funds. The share of workers who say they are living paycheck-to-paycheck has surged among middle- to high-income earners — 63% and 49%, respectively ...
Personal savings have plunged — how to boost your savings in case of a recession
As red flags go, this is a big one. The personal savings of Americans have plunged this year, hitting $629 billion in the second quarter of 2022, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St....
‘From Bambi to Godzilla.’ Strategist David Rosenberg skewers the Federal Reserve as he sees a 30% hit to home prices and the S&P 500 returning to an early 2020 low
The last time David Rosenberg shared his outlook for the U.S. stock market and the economy with MarketWatch, in late May, it was depressing enough. Rosenberg is the widely followed president and chief...
IRS releases new federal tax brackets and standard deductions. Here’s how they affect your family’s tax bill.
America’s high inflation rate will produce a 7% increase in the size of the standard deduction when workers file their taxes on their 2023 income, according to new inflation adjustments from the Inter...
Microsoft earnings on deck amid layoffs, recession fears: What to expect
Microsoft, which is laying off nearly 1,000 workers across multiple divisions, reports its fiscal first-quarter results after market close on Oct. 25. With fears of a recession looming, Axios and Busi...
New IRS tax brackets and standard deduction could save families hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Now, for the bad news.
In a time of rising costs, the Internal Revenue Service just raised income-tax brackets through new inflation adjustments for next year. It might feel tough sometimes to link the IRS with the concept ...
Intel reportedly to start ‘targeted’ layoffs in November
Intel Corp. is planning on announcing “targeted” layoffs in November, according to a report late Thursday, citing an internal video shared with employees. After the close of markets Thursday, The Oreg...
Workers are disengaged from their jobs — but don’t blame remote work. The real cause lies elsewhere.
Worker disengagement is increasing no matter where a person does their job, whether that’s in the office, at home, or a hybrid of both. And just because people are showing up to the job in person, it ...
How to save a bundle on your tax return
This is Part Two of our list of suggested year-end strategies. Part 1 discusses gaming the federal standard deduction, and managing capital gains and losses. The tax environment is getting friendlier ...
‘Am I being ripped off?’ I moved into my husband’s home. I pay for groceries. The rental income from my apartment goes into our joint savings.
I read one of your previous columns regarding the boyfriend who wants the letter writer to move in. My case is similar, but we have already made a decision on how to structure our finances as they rel...