Author: troyashbacher

Jerome Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, during a news conference following a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025.Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesOdds of a December rate cut remained low following the release of delayed jobs data. Markets were last pricing about a 35% chance of a quarter-point cut from the Federal Reserve next month, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. That is higher than the 30% likelihood priced in during the prior session, but remains weak. The tool used fed funds futures trading to calculate the odds.The…

Over one-third of Medicaid spending pays for long-term care, with most of the spending paying for home care—also known as “home- and community-based services” or HCBS. Medicaid pays for almost 70% of all home care spending in the U.S., nearly all of which is provided through optional services. Among those optional services, states rely heavily on Medicaid “waivers” to provide home care, which allow them to manage costs using mechanisms such as capping spending or enrollment in the waiver (Box 1). States may also use waiting lists to track and manage people who want to receive but are not yet…

Key Takeaways The U.S. economy added 119,000 jobs in September, more than forecasters expected, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.4% from 4.3%.The report, which was delayed by last month’s government shutdown, presented a mixed picture of the job market’s health. More people got hired in September than forecasters expected, and more were unemployed too, according to a highly anticipated and long-delayed report on the labor market.The U.S. economy added 119,000 jobs in September, rebounding from a loss of 4,000 jobs in August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday. That was more than double the 50,000 forecasters had expected,…

(Image credit: Getty Images)The September jobs report, delayed from its initial October 3 release date due to the record-long government shutdown, came in higher than expected. While this is good news for those worried about a sharp slowdown in the labor market, it does keep the odds of a December rate cut low.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, beating economists’ estimate for 50,000 new jobs. Figures for July were revised down by 7,000, from +79,000 to +72,000, while those for August were revised lower by 26,000, from +22,000 to -4,000.These revisions…

These Y-Weave storage baskets from Target are on sale for 40% off this week.  There are several styles and 4 color options- grey, black, white or clear.   The prices start at $2.40.  These are great to organize closets or a pantry. Click here to take a look.

Investors are responding well to AI-powered assistants when using digital wealth platforms, according to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Wealth Management Digital Experience Study released Thursday. The average overall satisfaction among advised investors using an app or website with a virtual assistant was 767 points (on a 1,000-point scale)—about 72 points higher than that of investors who don’t have access to an AI-driven assistant. Among do-it-yourself investors, the score was 47 points higher, on average, for wealth platforms that use assistants. If investors don’t have access to an AI assistant, these types of results may push other firms to add them soon.…

Dave:The housing market is hitting its typical seasonal slowdown. Listings are tapering off. Price growth is definitely flattening and mortgage demand has stalled for the fourth straight week, but under the surface, investors are positioning what’s next and starting to look forward to 2026. I’m Dave Meyer, alongside Kathy Fettke, Henry Washington and James Dainard, and today we’re walking through the headlines and trends that are shaping the end of 2025 you’re listening to On the Market. Let’s jump in. James, Kathy Henry, thank you all so much for being here. Kathy, how are you? Kathy:I’m doing great. I am…

When your gift list gets longer but your holiday gift budget stays the same, it’s time to get creative about shopping for everyone on your list. While rising prices make it feel impossible to get something everyone will love without overspending, there are plenty of budget-friendly gift ideas out there.One of the best-kept secrets for finding under-$20 gifts that will put a smile on people’s faces is Amazon Haul. The home of “crazy low” prices and deeply discounted finds, Amazon Haul is a place where everything you see costs $20 or less.Sure, you won’t find the newest Nintendo Switch for…

This week, I am thankful: for flowers that I didn’t have to plant  Sometimes I choose to take a walk in the historic downtown area instead of on a wooded trail, and when I do, I always enjoy seeing the lovely flower-filled plants people put together. I’m not much of a plant-person myself, but I’m glad other people are!  for the fun of looking in shop windows When I do my downtown walks, I always like peeking in the windows of the little shops.  They’re starting to be filled with Christmas-y things now! Aren’t these little guys so cute? This…

Stock futures pointed sharply higher Thursday, a day after AI darling Nvidia (NVDA) reported quarterly results above analysts’ lofty expectations.  Futures associated with the tech-heavy Nasdaq, benchmark S&P 500, and blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average were up a respective 1.5%, 1.1%, and 0.5%. Yesterday, the Dow and S&P 500 snapped four-session skids ahead of Nvidia’s earnings, while the Nasdaq ended higher for the first time this week. After the bell Wednesday, Nvidia’s fiscal 2026 third-quarter results blew past Wall Street expectations and the company also issued rosy revenue guidance for the current quarter, with CEO Jensen Huang saying sales of its AI Blackwell platform are…