Given such low inventories—which are even thinner in some key industries—a disruption that shutters an overseas semiconductor plant for even a few weeks has the potential to “shut down a manufacturing facility in the U.S., putting American workers and their families at risk,” the department said in a report. The 2021 inventory, the median for 25 semiconductor users surveyed in September, is based on 160 products the companies identified as being the most challenging to acquire....

Perhaps most importantly, consider the opportunity costs that you never see in your transaction history—but which still affect your finances. Opportunity Costs Some of the greatest costs you pay in a savings account aren’t bank fees—they’re invisible. When you deposit money with a bank, there’s an opportunity cost: Instead of doing something else with your money, you place it in a savings account and earn whatever the bank pays. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s critical to understand that there are pros and cons to every decision you make....

Despite a tiny uptick last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Purchase Index—a measure of applications—stayed near its lowest level since May 2020, the chart below shows. The latest figures add to recent evidence that the hot pandemic housing market is starting to cool off. Mortgage rates hovering near their highest since 2009 have jacked up monthly payments to levels unaffordable to many potential buyers, and are a grim contrast to the record low rates seen within the last two years....

That’s according to a report from mortgage data company Black Knight this week, which found that the average amount of equity held by mortgage-holders has sunk to $301,000 as of September, down from $331,000 at its peak in May, as home prices have fallen from the record highs they hit earlier in the year. The housing market has been hammered by the Federal Reserve’s campaign of interest rate hikes, which have made mortgage rates spike, driving many buyers from the market....

Home prices rose 19.5% from September 2020, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index, published Tuesday. That’s lower than the 19.8% annual increase in August and the first deceleration since May 2020, when growth eased to 4.4% from 4.6% the prior month. Prices for homes soared during the pandemic as people spent more time doing just about everything from home, including working and exercising, and craved more space to do it in....

CreditKarma.com’s Free Credit Score and Credit Report CreditKarma.com allows you to get a free credit score and credit report with absolutely no obligation. You don’t have to enter a credit card number or subscribe to a credit monitoring service. The credit score and credit report are absolutely free (the site makes money through advertisements). I’ve used it for several years and have never paid anything to view my credit. If you’re new to Credit Karma, you can sign up to receive a free credit score in less than two minutes....

Sincerely, Sharing the Wealth Dear Sharing, It’s great that you are in a financial position to give back to your family and loved ones, and that you had so much support growing up. So, how do you show them your appreciation without coming off as arrogant, flaunting wealth, or as if they need you to take care of them? That really depends on your family. I understand the desire to express your gratitude by using your money to make their lives easier or by spending it on things you think they’ll like....

How Real Estate Commissions Work A real estate commission is the amount that agents or brokers are paid for the work they do in buying or selling your home. Real estate agents work for a real estate broker. A real estate broker typically has more training than an agent. Brokers can work independently or start a brokerage, while real estate agents are required to work for a broker. All fees paid to a real estate agent must first pass through a broker....

How does a Roth IRA work? The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has specific rules regarding contributions, withdrawals, and taxation. Understanding these guidelines can help you decide if a Roth IRA belongs in your retirement savings strategy. Roth IRA Tax Benefits IRAs are designed to hold tax-advantaged retirement savings. Roth IRAs allow savers to set aside money for retirement using after-tax dollars. Unlike a traditional IRA, contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax-deductible....

As for a SEP Roth IRA? There is simply no such thing. However, if you’re interested in some tax-free retirement income, it could pay to maintain both a SEP and a Roth. You also have the option to convert your SEP IRA to a Roth IRA. Learn more about how a SEP IRA works, how one can work in tandem with a Roth, and how to conduct a SEP IRA to Roth IRA rollover....

How do hashtags work, and what’s the best way to use them? If you use platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, you are probably familiar with hashtags. A hashtag is the pound sign (#) followed by a word or phrase. Learn the do’s and don’ts of using hashtags to job search. If you use hashtags in a creative and thoughtful way, you can give your job search a boost and impress hiring managers....

There are no regulations or laws stating that buyers cannot use more than one agent or realtor; however, realtors have a code of ethics they follow, and they cannot interfere with another agent’s sales. They will not want to work for a client who is not committed to them or who is attempting to use multiple agents. How Real Estate Brokerages Work Many real estate agents work for a real estate broker, and can either work in a selling or buying agent capacity....

When Notary Public Fees Apply Important papers, including property deeds, loan papers, or certification to attest that a copy of an original document is valid, often need to be signed in the presence of a notary public, or a notary for short. A notary is a person who is authorized by a county or state to verify that people who sign a paper are who they say they are, that all signers are aware of the contents of the papers being signed, and that they are not signing against their will....

Four Questions to Decide How Much You Should Be Saving First, begin by asking yourself four key questions: How much passive income do you want every year from your investments? This figure should take into account not only the cost of the things you want, such as the price of a new house, but maintenance and upkeep as well. How much volatility are you willing to take? In other words, what is your tolerance for watching your account value gyrate up and down?...

The stability of your employment situation or another primary source of incomeThe level of fixed expenses you incur each monthYour desired standard of livingThe probability of large demands on your resources, particularly those that might arise on short noticeThe amount of cash you need in order to feel secure, which is an emotional consideration that differs from person to person and even from year to year It’s helpful to take a serious look at these factors if you want to determine the amount of personal savings that makes sense for your situation....

How Job Outsourcing Affects the Economy Job outsourcing helps U.S. companies be more competitive in the global marketplace. It allows them to sell to foreign markets with overseas branches. They keep labor costs low by hiring in emerging markets with lower standards of living. That lowers prices on the goods they ship back to the United States. The main negative effect of outsourcing is it increases U.S. unemployment. Outsourced jobs are often more than the number of unemployed Americans....

Here are four retirement planning decisions that singles will want to look at in a different way than couples will. 1. Look at Life Only Annuities and Pension Options If you are lucky enough to have a pension available to you, first you have to decide if you want to take a lump sum or annuity. The longer you think you might live, the more sense the annuity choice will usually make....

Let’s take a look at how to be prepared for this question and the best ways to answer it. What the Interviewer Wants to Know It’s important to be clear why you’re a good candidate for the position when you respond. The interviewer wants to know specifics about your personality, goals, and qualifications, and you should be prepared to avoid generic answers. The interviewer will ask this question to ensure that you understand the job you’re seeking....

Benefits of Finding Jobs at Company Websites If you find positions that catch your eye through large job search websites like Monster, make a list of those jobs and then go to the companies’ websites and apply through them instead. The benefit is that you’ll be competing against a smaller pool of applicants, which will naturally decrease the competition for your dream job. Also, you will be delivering your credentials to employers in their preferred format, as opposed to the one utilized by an external job site....

When the Credit CARD Act of 2009 required credit card issuers to allow cardholders to opt-in to credit limit charges, many of the major credit card issuers got rid of credit limit charges altogether. Still, many credit cards continue to assess a fee for cardholders who exceed their credit limits. Fees and Penalties for Going Over Your Credit Limit If your credit card issuer does charge an over-the-limit fee, the fee can be as much as $35....