ECONOMIC

Dec 24 2025BUSINESS

Paychecks at Risk: Student Loan Defaults Hit Hard in 2026

Starting in early 2026, some people with overdue student loans might see their paychecks shrink. The government is planning to take money directly from the wages of those who haven't paid back their loans. This move is part of a bigger effort to collect overdue payments, which began earlier this yea

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Dec 24 2025BUSINESS

The U. S. Economy: Strong Growth Amid Challenges

The U. S. economy showed impressive growth in the third quarter of 2025, expanding at a 4. 3% annual rate. This growth was driven by military spending and a significant increase in corporate profits. Despite this growth, there are concerns about the economy's health. Consumer sentiment remains low,

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Dec 24 2025BUSINESS

Wage Garnishment Returns for Student Loan Defaulters

Starting in early 2026, the U. S. Education Department plans to resume taking money directly from the paychecks of people who haven't paid their student loans in over 9 months. This practice, called wage garnishment, was put on hold during the pandemic. The department says they will begin by sending

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Dec 24 2025BUSINESS

Holiday Road Trips Get a Price Break

Drivers across the U. S. are enjoying a pleasant surprise this holiday season: cheaper gas. December has turned out to be the most affordable month for fuel prices all year. The national average for unleaded gasoline has been below $3 since December 2, hitting a low of about $2. 85 per gallon. Price

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Dec 24 2025POLITICS

Speeding Up America's Future: A Closer Look at the SPEED Act

America has the skills and resources to build a better future, but outdated rules are slowing things down. The SPEED Act aims to fix this by speeding up the process for big projects. This law has support from many groups, including businesses, local leaders, and tribes. Everyone agrees that the curr

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Dec 24 2025LIFESTYLE

The Changing Face of America: Boomers, Birth Rates, and the Future

America is getting older. The baby boomers, once the young rebels of their time, are now turning 80. This generation, born between 1946 and 1964, is known for their significant impact on culture and politics. They were the ones who danced with hula hoops, cheered for Barbie, and fought for civil rig

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Dec 24 2025BUSINESS

Job Shifts: What's in Store for 2026?

In 2025, the job market was a mixed bag. Early in the year, job cuts were few, but things took a turn in the last few months. Big companies started letting go of many workers, leading to some of the highest job losses seen in years. Looking ahead to 2026, opinions vary. Some think things might bala

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Dec 24 2025BUSINESS

Japan's Currency Control: What's the Plan?

The Japanese government is keeping its options open when it comes to stepping into the foreign exchange market. This is to address the yen's recent drop in value. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama made this clear during a recent news conference. She emphasized that the government is ready to act aga

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Dec 24 2025BUSINESS

Job Hopes Keep Dropping: What's Going On?

The job market is not looking good right now. People are getting worried. Expectations for finding work are going down. This is not a small issue. It affects many lives. Why is this happening? There are many reasons. The economy is not doing well. Companies are not hiring as much. Some people are l

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Dec 23 2025FINANCE

Volta Finance: A Rocky November in the Investment World

In November 2025, Volta Finance saw a slight dip in returns, with a net return of -0. 6%. This brought their year-to-date performance to +2. 3%. Meanwhile, other investments like US High Yield bonds and Euro High Yield bonds performed much better, with returns of +7. 8% and +4. 8% respectively. The

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