MoneyWatch

Americans are continually encouraged to sock away money in a 401(k) or other retirement plan to ensure a comfortable, if not cushy, life in their later years. Yet about half of all U.S. workers in the private sector lack access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, a huge obstacle in building …

The Republican budget package aims to make President Donald Trump’s tax cuts permanent while offering a host of new financial breaks. Yet the “big, beautiful bill,” as the legislation is dubbed, could also effectively transfer wealth from younger generations to older Americans over their lifetimes, a recent study finds.  Long-term, the primary …

The U.S. military strikes in Iran are raising questions about the impact on supplies of oil and gas, including whether the widening conflict could result in higher energy prices for Americans.  The price of the West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, jumped 4% on Sunday night shortly after the …

In an unusual pairing, beer maker Blue Moon and personal care product company eos have teamed up to create a new orange-flavored lip balm. The Valencia Orange Lip Balm debuted Tuesday and is available exclusively on Blue Moon and eos’ websites. It comes in a round shell typical of eos’ …

Alaska Airlines is making its first foray into the European travel market, announcing Tuesday it will launch new flights to and from Rome, Italy, beginning in May 2026.  The introduction of the new route marks the first time travelers will be able to fly nonstop from the airline’s hub in …

World markets soared on Thursday, with Japan’s benchmark jumping more than 9%, as investors welcomed President Trump’s decision to put his sharp tariff hikes on hold for 90 days, though he excluded China from the reprieve. U.S. futures were moving the other way. S&P 500 futures were down 1.57% as …

Boeing will plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two crashes of 737 Max jetliners that killed 346 people after the government determined the company violated an agreement that had protected it from prosecution for more than three years, the Justice Department said late Sunday night. The aerospace …

Chicago’s lakefront may be one of the city’s biggest gems, but the city says the water, shoreline and Chicago River contain a dangerous chemical known to cause harm to humans and the environment. The claims are contained in a lawsuit the city filed against Monsanto and three of its corporate …

Conventional wisdom for many Americans is to move away from cold weather and live out their senior years somewhere warm. However, retiring in a Midwestern state would be easier on the wallet, a new Bankrate study suggests. In search of the best places for retirement, the personal finance website analyzed all 50 …

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday charged a so-called “blank check” acquisition company formed to merge with former President Donald Trump’s social media company with fraud.  In announcing a settlement with Digital World Acquisition Corporation, which is listed on the Nasdaq exchange, the SEC said the company misled investors …