Lack of inflation is bad news for Social Security recipients

(Matt Rourke / AP)

There will be no cost-of-living increase in January, but Medicare drug premiums are expected to rise for some.

Latest News

Main Street Morning: Uber admits to leaking drivers’ data

Main Street Morning: Uber admits to leaking drivers’ data

Our rundown of news affecting start-ups and small businesses.

The South says no to marijuana but yes to hemp

The South says no to marijuana but yes to hemp

The South has resisted legalizing pot, even for medical use, but in states where tobacco once reigned supreme, industrial hemp has come into vogue.

Mortgage rates wander higher but appear headed down again

Mortgage rates wander higher but appear headed down again

The 30-year fixed-rate average climbed to 3.82 percent but more poor economic data will likely push it lower.

A hug that could have cost $127,000

A hug that could have cost $127,000

A pricey hug, the family money lender and more in Michelle Singletary’s e-letter.

Wal-Mart warns that its profits will fall, shares plummet

Wal-Mart warns that its profits will fall, shares plummet

Company is opening fewer supercenter stores and focusing more on e-commerce business.

LivingSocial announces plans to dismiss 200, including 30 in D.C.

LivingSocial announces plans to dismiss 200, including 30  in D.C.

Chief executive Gautam Thakar says cuts come as company shifts away from daily-deals business.

Columnists

Michelle Singletary

Michelle Singletary

Grandparents who are raising children need more support

A study shows that many of the 2.7 million elderly caregivers of young children live below the poverty line.

Barry Ritholtz

Barry Ritholtz

‘Never buy a boat’ and other rash financial advice

Just saying “no” to buying anything misses out on the best way to make intelligent financial decisions.

Rodney Brooks

Rodney Brooks

On women’s paths to retirement security, there are plenty of hurdles

Longer life spans than men’s and a lack of financial literacy are among challenges sapping their confidence.

Allan Sloan

Allan Sloan

Toshiba puts the ‘limited’ in limited warranty

Inside a consumer nightmare of “What Does this Warranty Not Cover?”: Keycaps not included.

Thomas Heath

Thomas Heath

Entrepreneur finds passion and profits under man-made moonlight

“Light envy” spurs Virginia neighbors to spend on outdoor lighting systems.

Market News

US stocks advance; Citigroup gains on strong earnings

US stocks advance; Citigroup gains on strong earnings

Gains for financial companies helped push the stock market toward its biggest gain in almost two weeks on Thursday. Financial stocks were boosted by strong third-quarter earnings reports from Citigroup and regional lender KeyCorp.

Wonkblog

Most gun owners don’t belong to the NRA — and they don’t agree with it either

Most gun owners don’t belong to the NRA — and they don’t agree with it either

Fewer than one in ten gun owners are NRA members.

The wildly hyped $9 billion blood test company that no one really understands

The wildly hyped $9 billion blood test company that no one really understands

Questions about a secretive ‘breakthrough’ technology

I asked psychologists to analyze Trump supporters. This is what I learned.

I asked psychologists to analyze Trump supporters. This is what I learned.

The public’s support for Donald Trump actually makes a lot of sense, psychologists said.

More from Wonkblog

On Leadership

Apple opens up stock awards to all employees—even hourly retail workers

Apple opens up stock awards to all employees—even hourly retail workers

Tim Cook’s move will extend typically professional-level perks to the lowest ranks.

Five great pieces of advice from Fortune’s Most Powerful Women

Five great pieces of advice from Fortune’s Most Powerful Women

Here are a few of the best nuggets of wisdom from this accomplished group of women.

More from On Leadership

Get There

The retirement costs that are rising faster than Social Security benefits

The retirement costs that are rising faster than Social Security benefits

People receiving Social Security retirement benefits have seen their purchasing power drop by 22 percent since 2000, according to a report from the Senior Citizens League.

Why home buying was a bust for many African Americans even during the boom

Why home buying was a bust for many African Americans even during the boom

New black homeowners lost wealth even as the overall market sizzled, a new study finds.

The Switch

Apple is learning an expensive lesson about universities

Apple is learning an expensive lesson about universities

The university that just beat Apple in court isn’t a patent troll. But it’s behaving a bit like one.

Tesla Model S P90D: A normal person drives the ‘best car’ ever made

Tesla Model S P90D: A normal person drives the ‘best car’ ever made

The all-electric Tesla Model S P90D is sleek, silent and impossibly fast. Here’s why that matters for the future of electric cars.

More from The Switch