Ward: Security

121

Silver Hits Record High on Rate-Cut Bets and Geopolitical Strife

Silver rose to a record and gold edged higher on heightened geopolitical tensions and expectations for more Federal Reserve rate cuts next year.

111

How Many Toys Will Parents Buy for Their Kids This Christmas?

Ynon Kreiz, the chief executive of Mattel, believes consumers squeezed by tariffs and inflation will cut back on other things before they skimp on Barbies and Hot Wheels.

432

Rich Families Face Tax Audits as Indonesia Races to Plug Deficit

Indonesia is seeking to plug an unusually deep revenue shortfall before year-end by scrutinizing wealthy individuals and big businesses for extra tax payments.

444

Trump likely to propose tariff check legislation in new year: Hassett

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Sunday that President Trump will likely back legislation to send $2,000 tariff rebate checks to Americans in the new year. “I would expect that in the new year, the president will bring forth a proposal to Congress to make that happen,” Hassett t…

111

Hassett: US ‘going to see the biggest tax refund season of all time’ in 2026

White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Sunday that the United States is “going to see the biggest tax refund season of all time” in 2026. “There's so much good news in the new year, because you're going to see the biggest tax refund season of all time. The big, beautiful b…

212

Fed’s Hammack Says Pause in Rate Cuts Is Her Base Case for Now

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack said monetary policy is in a good place to pause and assess the effects of 75 basis points of rate cuts in the economy during the first quarter.

118

3 changes may impact retirement in 2026: What to know

Those planning to retire, or who have already retired, can expect to see some notable changes in the new year.

109

Incoming voter on interest rate policy, Cleveland Fed's Hammack says no more cuts

"My base case is that we can stay here for some period of time," Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack told the WSJ.

109

How Much More Can the U.S. Travel Industry Take?

Politics and border hassles have chased away foreign visitors, costing businesses billions. Some fear next year’s World Cup won’t be enough to bring tourists back.

221

The solve for America's aging crisis: Universal Basic Investment

America faces an aging crisis: We have too few young people supporting too many older people — at the very moment Social Security, our national retirement program, nears insolvency.To make matters worse, young people are increasingly scared to have kids — in part because they fear AI will make findi…

220

Americans weigh in on cost of living, Trump, expectations for 2026 in poll

More see Trump's policies responsible for economy today than Biden's; there are also concerns about AI impact on jobs.

320

Labour admits 60% of parents wrongly targeted in HMRC child benefit fraud crackdown

Exclusive: Scale of government’s anti-fraud fiasco is four times higher than previously admittedMore than 60% of parents who had their child benefit stopped by HMRC using incorrect Home Office travel data were not fraudulently claiming the support from abroad, it has emerged.The scale of the governm…

348

‘It can be quite a thankless job’: why driving examiners are calling it quits

A staff exodus and a broken booking system are helping to cause huge jams in Britain’s driving test system It has long been a stressful rite of passage for many young people but, in recent years, passing the actual driving test is the easy part. Now, many people seeking a test need to wake up early …

109

Holiday shoppers out in force, but concerns over consumer sentiment linger

Holiday shopping is in high gear, with the National Retail Federation predicting a record 159 million shoppers on what it calls "Super Saturday," with nearly a third buying gifts in stores. However, consumer sentiment is down as many Americans are concerned about their economic future. Nicole Valdes…

123

Chicago Council Passes 2026 Budget to Close $1.2 Billion Gap

Chicago’s City Council passed a roughly $16 billion budget for 2026 — less than two weeks before the deadline — without certainty about whether Mayor Brandon Johnson will sign or veto the plan.

111

How to Stop Supporting Your Adult Kids When You’re Retired

In trying to help grown children, parents can hurt their own retirement security. Here’s how to stop the flow of money.

219

Your paycheck may get larger in January, even without a raise

You could be starting off 2026 with more income than expected.

333

The real reason incomes rise and why they drop

Getting ahead financially is mainly about what you earn at work, not what you make from investments. Researchers found that promotions, skills, and better jobs drive most upward income movement. But when people slip backward, falling investment income is usually the main reason. Labor builds income …

111

Report: Americans spent $228 billion on alcohol last year. Where did adults spend the most?

While some states spent vastly more than others on adult beverages, like California, which paid the most in the country at roughly $29 billion, the states where the average adult spent the most on alcohol over the last year may surprise you.

209

Don’t bet on lots of hiring and new jobs in 2026 — or lots of layoffs, either

The U.S. jobs market took a sharp turn for the worse in 2025, and it doesn’t look like hiring will catch fire in the new year.