Car loan rates head for 14-year high in new barrier for buyers
The average annual percentage rate on new-car loans was 6.3% last month, the highest since April 2019, according to Edmunds.
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Political spat over responsible investing gets hotter
The political fight is only getting fiercer over whether it’s financially wise or “woke” folly to consider a company’s impact on climate change, workers’ rights and other issues when making investments.
Clock ticking for private equity to spend through tougher times
Rising interest rates, inflation and recession risks have eroded consumer confidence and left buyout firms facing a new reality of higher financing costs and potentially lower returns.
Key U.S. inflation gauge stayed at high 6.2% in September
A measure of inflation that is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve remained painfully high last month, the latest sign that prices for most goods and services in the United States are still rising steadily.
Average mortgage rates top 7% for the first time in 2 decades
Many potential homebuyers have moved to the sidelines as mortgage rates have more than doubled this year. Sales of existing homes have declined for eight straight months.
Biden hails bid to curb bank ‘junk fees’ as boon to consumers
The guidance announced Wednesday by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau could deal a significant blow to banks that earned nearly $8.5 billion from the charges last year.
Record number of Americans have bank accounts, government says
A new report from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued Tuesday found that 4.5% of Americans—representing about 5.9 million households—were without a bank account in 2021.
Court temporarily blocks Biden’s student loan forgiveness
Attorneys for six Republican-led states are asking a federal appeals court to reconsider their effort to block the Biden administration’s program to forgive billions of dollars in student loan debt.
IRS increases standard deductions, tax brackets due to inflation
Taxpayers will get fatter standard deductions for 2023 and all seven federal income tax bracket levels will be revised upward as the government allows people to shield more of their money from taxation.
USDA announces $1.3 billion debt relief for 36,000 farmers
The federal government announced Tuesday a program that will help farmers who have fallen behind on loan payments or face foreclosure.
More debt, higher fees: Credit card borrowers face mounting burdens
Credit card debt is rising at its fastest clip in more than 20 years, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Overall, Americans owe $887 billion on their credit cards, a 13 percent increase from a year ago.
Small business group files suit over Biden student loan plan
The new suit is one of a growing number of legal challenges against the proposal laid out by President Joe Biden in late August to cancel up to $20,000 in debt for certain borrowers.
Fraud, scam cases increasing on Zelle, Senate report finds
Since being launched in June 2017, Zelle has become a popular way for bank customers to send money to friends and family. A new report says large banks who partly own the service have been reluctant to compensate customers who have been victims of fraud or scams.
U.S. mortgage rates up for 6th week, with 30-year at 6.7%
The beefier rates mark highs not seen in 15 years, before a crash in the housing market triggered the Great Recession.
Regions Bank to refund $141M for illegal overdraft fees
A federal investigation found Regions was charging overdraft fees on some ATM withdrawals as well as some debit card purchases, even after the bank told the customers they had enough funds to cover the transactions.
GOP critics say politics drives ESG choices for investment firms
Conservative Republican blowback continues to grow against a concept known as ESG investing, which takes environmental, social and corporate governance concerns into consideration when assessing the value of companies.
Indianapolis-area insurance broker charged in $4M Ponzi scheme
Former insurance broker Brian Simms of Lebanon was arrested Wednesday after being charged with six counts of wire fraud by a federal grand jury.
Average U.S. long-term mortgage rates hit 15-year high
Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates jumped by more than a quarter-point this week to their highest level since 2007 as the Federal Reserve intensified its effort to tamp down decades-high inflation and cool the economy.
Fed attacks inflation with another big hike and expects more
The Federal Reserve boosted its benchmark short-term rate, which affects many consumer and business loans, to a range of 3% to 3.25%, the highest level since early 2008.
Bank CEOs warn of ‘daunting’ challenges from inflation
Democrats called JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup to Washington, D.C., to talk about pocketbook issues as households contend with the highest inflation since the early 1980’s and the midterm election looms just weeks away.