Strong Holiday Spending Masks A Widening Economic Gap

Mortgage

Holiday spending came in at the high end of projected ranges for 2025 despite numerous economic challenges. According to Mastercard, U.S. retail sales (excluding automotive) increased 3.9% year-over-year from Nov. 1 through Dec. 21, 2025.…

APR vs. Interest Rate: What’s The Difference?

Mortgage

ljubaphoto/Getty Images: Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways The interest rate on a mortgage indicates how much interest you’ll pay for the amount you borrow. The annual percentage rate (APR) is the interest rate plus additional fees and any points. When comparing loan offers, it’s best to compare APRs to…

Federal Reserve links tariffs to slower US employment growth rates

News

An analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City found that tariffs may have slowed job growth in the U.S. economy in 2025 after the higher import taxes were implemented. Economists at the Kansas City Fed noted that employment growth slowed markedly from 170,000 per month in 2024 to only 75,000…

Cash-Out Refinancing: What It Is, How It Works

Mortgage

Christina Zelow Lundquist/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways A cash-out refinance replaces your current mortgage with a new, bigger one. The borrower receives the difference between the two balances in cash. The terms of your refinanced mortgage might differ from your original loan, including a new interest…

Social Security SSI benefits to be paid early due to weekend calendar quirk

News

Some Social Security beneficiaries will receive their monthly benefits slightly earlier than usual in February and March due to a quirk in the calendar. The Social Security Administration (SSA) ordinarily disburses payments for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) on the first day of a given month. The SSI program provides monthly payments to…