Economics and politics

Car insurance rates jumped last month.  Why they might peak.

Car insurance rates jumped last month. Why they might peak.

Car insurance prices still seem out of control for many consumers as premiums jumped again last month. But there may be some cooling ahead. Core inflation rose 3.2 percent year-on-year in February, according to the latest CPI release on Tuesday. On a monthly basis, it rose by 0.4%, with food prices remaining relatively stable and …

Car insurance rates jumped last month. Why they might peak. Read More »

Car prices are finally coming down.  It looks like a buyer’s market.

Car prices are finally coming down. It looks like a buyer’s market.

The high cost of new cars has been a concern among buyers and investors in the automotive sector for several years since Covid-19 ravaged the global economy. But now a change is happening. New cars are becoming more affordable—and that’s a good thing for car buyers. This is good even for car investors who tend …

Car prices are finally coming down. It looks like a buyer’s market. Read More »

Car prices are finally coming down.  It looks like a buyer’s market.

New cars are becoming more affordable. That’s good for buyers and auto stocks.

The high cost of new cars has been a concern among buyers and investors in the automotive sector for several years since Covid-19 ravaged the global economy. But now a change is happening. New cars are becoming more affordable — and that’s a good thing for car buyers. This is good even for car investors …

New cars are becoming more affordable. That’s good for buyers and auto stocks. Read More »

Chinese tourists traveled a lot.  Now they hardly leave the house.

Chinese tourists traveled a lot. Now they hardly leave the house.

For Ma Liang, a travel agent in Chengdu, China, bookings for group trips abroad are almost full. “That’s because we hardly offer any travel,” he said in an interview. Demand for travel outside China is so low that many services have been disrupted, from airline routes to sightseeing tours and shopping districts in cities such …

Chinese tourists traveled a lot. Now they hardly leave the house. Read More »

Chinese tourists traveled a lot.  Now they hardly leave the house.

Chinese tourists traveled a lot. Now they hardly leave the house.

For Ma Liang, a travel agent in Chengdu, China, bookings for group trips abroad are almost full. “That’s because we hardly offer any travel,” he said in an interview. Demand for travel outside China is so low that many services have been disrupted, from airline routes to sightseeing tours and shopping districts in cities such …

Chinese tourists traveled a lot. Now they hardly leave the house. Read More »

Cash was king. Why you should move away from it.

The Federal Reserve’s fastest and biggest campaign to raise interest rates, which began in early 2022, lifted returns on money market funds and other money-like investments north of 5%. For investors buffeted by volatile stock and bond markets, it’s hard to resist cash. “Clients have loved it this year,” says Rebecca Boyd, wealth adviser at …

Cash was king. Why you should move away from it. Read More »

Climate change disasters are hitting emerging markets hard. A new insurance angle can help insurers and property owners.

If you’re annoyed by rising insurance costs in Florida or California, spare a thought for earthquake survivors in Turkey or flood victims in Pakistan. Most homeowners in the developing world can’t afford natural disaster insurance — a “natcat” in industry jargon — at any price, even as climate change makes disasters more frequent and severe. …

Climate change disasters are hitting emerging markets hard. A new insurance angle can help insurers and property owners. Read More »

The SEC’s rule on gamification of trading will have the opposite effect

About the authors: Jennifer J. Shulp is Director of Financial Regulation Research at the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives. Jack Soloway is a political analyst at the center. Almost three years after the peak of meme-ware fever, GameStop is making headlines again. Between the recently released movie “Stupid Money” and the Securities …

The SEC’s rule on gamification of trading will have the opposite effect Read More »