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Most of the wealth accumulated during the pandemic has dissipated, forcing American households to choose between spending savings, taking on debt or leaving the wallet at home altogether.
• Powell warned that inflation is still above the central bank’s target of around 2% and that additional interest rate increases are on the table. He noted the Fed will remain flexible as it contemplates further moves.
• Maui County sued Hawaiian Electric (HEI) for damages over the deadly wildfires, accusing the power company of leaving its power lines energized despite fire risk warnings. The county said it will cost more than $5 billion to rebuild Lahaina, citing initial estimates from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
• No major economic reports or earnings calls are scheduled today.
Want to break the ice in a roomful of strangers? Ask whether it’s better to buy or lease a car, and enjoy the passionate debate that follows. As with many things in life, the answer is: it depends. Here are three things to consider when deciding whether to buy or lease your next car.
1. How will you use the car? The average mileage limit for a leased car is 15,000 per year. That sounds like a lot, but what if you change jobs and have to commute 40 miles to the office? Your 1,600 monthly commuter miles leave no wiggle room for road trips and weekend getaways. Not only that, but many leases stipulate that you pay for any “excess” wear and tear.
2. Compare monthly payments. The average car lease costs $500 a month, while the average payment on a new, financed car is $550 per month. Of course, at the end of the loan term, you’ll own the car.
3. Consider maintenance costs. Leasing a car means always driving a new vehicle, with presumably fewer mechanical issues. Plus, maintenance may be covered under your agreement. On the flip side, if you’re looking to buy a used car, you’ll need to consider maintenance and repairs in the future.
A budget tracker can help you create a plan to accommodate your new monthly payment. And you can track your vehicle’s real-time value in the SoFi app with Auto Tracker.
Not-so-breaking news
Spirit Airlines (SAVE) agreed to pay $8.25 million following a class action lawsuit regarding bag fees. Passengers with tickets from third-party services accused the airline of surprising them with carry-on fees.
Heineken (HEINY) completed its withdrawal from Russia, selling its Russian business for just €1, 18 months after the start of the Ukraine invasion.
The United Auto Workers won a 25% pay raise for workers at General Motors’ (GM) EV battery plant in Ohio. The factory is the first US EV battery plant to be represented by a union.
Alibaba (BABA) launched two new AI large language models, Qwen-VL and Qwen-VL-Chat. The AI models can reportedly understand images and hold complex conversations.
Peloton is shedding members: 15,000 to 20,000 Peloton (PTON) members canceled their subscription after the bike company recalled 2.2 million seat posts and was slow to send replacement parts.
Financial planner tip of the day
“Consider using budgeting apps to help you keep track of your spending and savings. Your time is likely better spent planning and monitoring your budget than it is manually entering your purchases and transactions.”
Brian Walsh, CFP® at SoFi