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Today’s speed limits grew out of studies on rural roads from the 1930s and 1940s. Now states are looking to change guidelines



Rose Hammond pushed authorities for years to lower the 55 mph speed limit on a two-lane road that passes her assisted living community, a church, two schools and a busy park that hosts numerous youth sports leagues.

“What are you waiting for, somebody to get killed?” the 85-year-old chided officials in northwest Ohio, complaining that nothing was being done about the motorcycles that race by almost daily.

Amid growing public pressure, Sylvania Township asked county engineers in March to analyze whether Mitchaw Road’s posted speed is too high. The surprising answer: Technically, it’s 5 mph too low.

The reason dates back to studies on rural roads from the 1930s and 1940s that still play an outsized role in the way speed limits are set across the U.S. — even in urban areas.

Born from that research was a widely accepted concept known as the 85% rule, which suggests a road’s posted speed should be tied to the 15th-fastest vehicle out of every 100 traveling it in free-flowing traffic, rounded to the nearest 5 mph increment.

But after decades of closely following the rule, some states — with a nudge from the federal government — are seeking to modify if not replace it when setting guidelines for how local engineers should decide what speed limit to post.

Drivers set the speed

The concept assumes that a road’s safest speed is the one most vehicles travel — neither too high nor too low. If drivers think the speed limit should be raised, they can simply step on the gas and “vote with their feet,” as an old brochure from the Institute of Transportation Engineers once put it.

“The problem with this approach is it creates this feedback loop,” said Jenny O’Connell, director of member programs for the National Association of City Transportation Officials. “People speed, and then the speed limits will be ratcheted up to match that speed.”

The association developed an alternative to the 85% rule known as “City Limits,” which aims to minimize the risk of injuries for all road users by setting the speed limit based on a formula that factors in a street’s activity level and the likelihood of conflicts, such as collisions.

The report points out the 85% rule is based on dated research and that “these historic roads are a far cry from the vibrant streets and arterials that typify city streets today.”

Amid a recent spike in road deaths across the country, the Federal Highway Administration sent a subtle but important message to states that the 85% rule isn’t actually a rule at all and was carrying too much weight in determining local speed limits. In its first update since 2009 to a manual that establishes national guidelines for traffic signs, the agency clarified that communities should also consider such things as how the road is used, the risk to pedestrians, and the frequency of crashes.

Leah Shahum, who directs the Vision Zero Network, a nonprofit advocating for street safety, said she wishes the manual had gone further in downplaying the 85% rule but acknowledges the change has already impacted the way some states set speed limits. Others, however, are still clinging to the simplicity and familiarity of the longstanding approach, she said.

“The 85th percentile should not be the Holy Grail or the Bible, and yet over and over again it is accepted as that,” Shahum said.

Rethinking the need for speed

Under its “20 is Plenty” campaign, the Wisconsin capital of Madison has been changing signs across the city this summer, lowering the speed limit from 25 mph to 20 mph on local residential streets.

When Seattle took a similar step in a pilot program seven years ago, not only did it see a noticeable decline in serious injury crashes but also a 7% drop in the 85th percentile speed, according to the Vision Zero Network.

California embraces the 85% rule even more than most states as its basis for setting speed limits. But legislators have loosened the restrictions on local governments a bit in recent years, allowing them to depart from the guidelines if they can cite a proven safety need. Advocates for pedestrians and bicyclists say the change helps, but is not enough.

“We still have a long way to go in California in terms of putting value on all road users,” said Kendra Ramsey, executive director of the California Bicycle Coalition. “There’s still a very heavy mindset that automobiles are the primary method of travel and they should be given priority and reverence.”

But Jay Beeber, executive director for policy at the National Motorists Association, an advocacy organization for drivers, said following the 85% rule is usually the safest way to minimize the variation in speed between drivers who abide by the posted limit and those who far exceed it.

“It doesn’t really matter what number you put on a sign,” Beeber said. “The average driver drives the nature of the roadway. It would be patently unfair for a government to build a road to encourage people to drive 45 mph, put a 30 mph speed limit on it, and then ticket everyone for doing what they built the road to do.”

80 is the new 55

Fears about oil prices prompted Congress in the 1970s to set a 55 mph national maximum speed limit, which it later relaxed to 65 mph before repealing the law in 1995 and handing the authority to states. Since then, speed limits have kept climbing, with North Dakota this summer becoming the ninth state to allow drivers to go 80 mph on some stretches of highway. There’s even a 40-mile segment in Texas between Austin and San Antonio where 85 mph is allowed.

Although high-speed freeways outside major population centers aren’t the focus of most efforts to ease the 85% rule, a 2019 study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — a research arm funded by auto insurers — illustrates the risks. Every 5 mph increase to a state’s maximum speed limit increases the chance of fatalities by 8.5% on interstate highways and 2.8% on other roads, the study found.

“Maybe back when you were driving a Model T you had a real feel for how fast you were going, but in modern vehicles you don’t have a sense of what 80 mph is. You’re in a cocoon,” said Chuck Farmer, the institute’s vice president for research, who conducted the study.

A town’s attempt at change

If elected officials in Sylvania Township, Ohio, got their way, Mitchaw Road’s posted speed limit would be cut dramatically — from 55 mph to 40 mph or lower. The county’s finding that the 85% rule actually calls for raising it to 60 mph surprised the town’s leaders, but not the engineers who ran the study.

“If we don’t make decisions based on data, it’s very difficult to make good decisions,” Lucas County Engineer Mike Pniewski said.

For now, the speed limit will remain as it is. That’s because Ohio law sets maximum speeds for 15 different types of roadways, regardless of what the 85% rule suggests.

And Ohio’s guidelines are evolving. The state now gives more consideration to roadway context and allows cities to reduce speed limits based on the lower standard of the 50th percentile speed when there’s a large presence of pedestrians and bicyclists. Authorities there recently hired a consultant to consider additional modifications based on what other states are doing.

“States have very slowly started to move away from the 85th percentile as being kind of the gold standard for decision-making,” said Michelle May, who manages Ohio’s highway safety program. “People are traveling and living differently than they did 40 years ago, and we want to put safety more at the focus.”

It’s unclear whether any of these changes will ultimately impact the posted speed on Mitchaw Road. After years of futile calls and emails to state, county and township officials, Hammond says she isn’t holding her breath.

“I just get so discouraged,” she said.

Make Ends Meet On a Single Income


Saving seems like an impossible hurdle when you’re struggling to make ends meet and have to search for quarters under the couch to pay your electric bill. I get it (I write for a living, after all—I’m not driving a Lamborghini).

However, finding ways to build your savings and even start investing is the only way you’re going to get off the paycheck-to-paycheck struggle bus.

Here are a few ways you may be able to find a few extra dollars to save every week

Buy Cheap Staple Foods in Bulk and Meal Prep

Chickpea, rice, and avocado meal

Food is one of our most controllable monthly costs, so that’s where we’ll start. Meal prepping—spending time on your days off to prepare lunches and dinners for the week—is a great way to bring your food costs down without becoming malnourished on instant ramen.

Meal prepping works well for several reasons: (A) you save money by cooking from scratch instead of buying frozen dinners or takeout, (B) you save time by making and freezing multiple batches ahead of time, and (C) you can plan healthier meals, because being healthy is also good for your finances, by the way.

Typically, the costs per pound go down when you buy larger amounts of staple foods. Start by stocking your pantry with these ingredients:

  • Rice (ideally brown)
  • Dried beans
  • Pasta (ideally wheat)
  • Frozen veggies
  • Lentils
  • Oats
  • Flour
  • Oil
  • Peanut butter
  • Coffee if you drink it (much cheaper to brew your own)

Once you’ve built a base of nonperishable staples, you can supplement with occasional trips to the store to replenish perishables. I’d also recommend building an arsenal of herbs and spices to make your flavors more interesting.

As far as recipes go, I regularly visit the subreddit EatCheapAndHealthy to get new ideas, but things like oatmeal, pancakes, soup, burritos, curries, and stir-fries are extremely simple and cheap ways to start. Learn to bake your own bread; it’s a rewarding skill to have and it’s actually fun.

You can even try to duplicate your favorite takeout or fast-food orders—I use spaghetti to make a lo mein duplicate for 1/5th the cost.

Turning yourself into a frugal master chef is also a pretty solid way to impress family/friends/dates, if you need extra convincing.

Audit Your Subscriptions

Recurring subscriptions can be one of the biggest invisible drains to your bank account. In some cases, you may not even remember you have a subscription until you see the monthly or annual charge hit.

There are a few things you can do to avoid hemorrhaging subscription money. First, regularly review all charges on your debit or credit cards.

Not only will this keep you aware of subscription payments; it’s also a good habit to check for fraud if you see any purchases you didn’t actually make.

Living room with Netflix on TV

Second, don’t keep multiple subscriptions with overlapping purposes. Sure, you might already have saved money by canceling cable and using Netflix and Hulu instead—but there could still be room for improvement.

You could choose one of them to keep first and work through all the top shows you want to see, then cancel and switch.

Or, you could even try out some of the free (and safe and legal) streaming sites out there, like Yahoo View, Crackle, Tubi, and Vudu. Offerings will usually be more limited and you may have to deal with ads, but it’s more money in the bank!

Lastly, it might go without saying at this point, but cancel any subscriptions that you aren’t actually using. It might be Amazon Prime, a premium music service, a magazine, or a gym membership you keep meaning to use.

Whatever it is, funnel the cost into savings or investments instead. You may be surprised how much you’ll accumulate in a year.

Buy and Sell at Thrift Stores and Secondhand Sites

When you need to buy something—from a winter coat to necessary household goods—it can save you a ton of money to get them secondhand.

You can often even score name-brand items in good condition for a fraction of the original prices.

Some people are able to bring in extra income by reselling thrifted items online, but this usually works best when you have good foundational knowledge of certain types of products and can eyeball what will sell and what won’t.

Otherwise, you might spend money you don’t have on inventory that just sits around your house.

However, if you already have items sitting around your house, you might as well see what you can sell. Uncluttering your living space and adding to your savings is a win-win.

Poshmark, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace are a few places where you can list items to sell.

Consider Adding Roommates

set of keys

This isn’t an ideal option for everyone, especially if you already live with other people or there are other reasons preventing a move.

However, if you’re truly struggling to make ends meet and are running out of other options, weigh the idea. It’s usually the case that the more people you live with, the cheaper costs become for everyone.

For instance, you might have the option of renting a one-bedroom apartment by yourself for $750, or a $1500 four-bedroom place with three roommates.

With the first option, you’re paying $750 plus all utilities. With the second option, your rent drops to $375, and you share costs like heating and electric.

Now, how pleasant this experience is for you all depends on the people you end up with. It seems like everyone has a horrible roommate story. Some never wash their dishes.

Others have the TV too loud at 2 a.m. Others just don’t mesh well sharing space. However, you might also find that you enjoy living with roommates and get along well.

It can be a roll of the dice, but if you happen to end up with a bad roommate—as long as they’re not legitimately dangerous or toxic—take a deep breath and think about the hundreds of dollars you’re saving (and the future stories you’ll get to tell).

Use Free Cash Back Apps Whenever Possible

Technology is pretty amazing, especially when it gives you money for free. There are several types of apps you can use to earn cash back when you do your regular shopping, like getting groceries.

Scan your receipts with cash-back grocery apps

With each of these apps, you can add items to your in-app shopping list and scan your receipt after you purchase those items. Then, cash back or points are added to your app account, which you can usually cash out to PayPal.

Ibotta app interface

Ibotta (pictured left): This app is my favorite because they also include regular incentives like an extra $5 for redeeming 5 offers in a week. Sign up for Ibotta here and get $5 free.

Fetch Rewards: Scan receipts from any grocery store. Sign up for Fetch Rewards here and enter Fetch code K6AAK for 2,000 sign-up points.

Checkout 51: Sort by retailer or category. Sign up for Checkout 51 and get $5 free.

The best part is that these apps operate separately, so you can use all three at once, even for the same product.

I like to browse the offers while I’m at the gym, on the bus, or watching TV, so it doesn’t add any extra time to my day.

Then, I upload my receipts as soon as I get home from the grocery store. I cash out a couple times a year and it’s always a nice bonus!

Get money back for online purchases

Shop through Rakuten to get money back from hundreds of stores. This includes necessities like baby supplies and tires for your car. Sign up for Rakuten here and get $10 free.

Link cards to automatic cash-back apps

Of all these options, this one is by far the easiest, because it requires no extra work on your end after you’ve set up the apps.

With these apps, you securely connect debit or credit cards, and whenever you make a purchase at one of the app’s retail partners, you automatically earn cash back.

Here are the two main apps that work this way:

Dosh: Partners include some grocery stores (e.g. 2% cash back at Sam’s Club), as well as retail stores and restaurants, both local and chains. Sign up for Dosh here and get $5 free when you link a card.

Drop: Much more limited than Dosh, at least for now. You can only pick 5 stores to connect for automatic rewards. Sign up for Drop here.

I started using both of these apps recently, but I love the concept of totally hands-off cash back. Your first passive income stream!

Pick Up a Side Hustle

So, maybe you’ve slashed your expenses as far as they can go, and you’re still struggling to make ends meet. In this case, the only other option for saving more is to earn more.

You can ask for a raise or extra hours at your main job, or you can use your free time to start a side hustle. I don’t think I can beat Peter’s side hustle ideas, so head to that article next to start brainstorming!

Other Ways to Find Helpful and Free Assistance for People and Families with Low Income

72,730 Student Loan Borrowers Stuck In Forgiveness Backlog


Key Points

  • The Department of Education increased processing of Income-Driven Repayment applications in July, cutting the backlog by more than 100,000.
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness buyback processing also rose, but the backlog continued to grow amid high application volume.
  • Concerns remain about the Department’s ability to manage workloads as layoffs loom and repayment changes approach.

The Department of Education reported a major increase in processing Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) applications in July, according to the latest status report (PDF File). 

The agency processed 304,844 applications, up from 186,731 in June. As a result, the IDR backlog fell to 1,386,406, down from more than 1.5 million at the end of June. It’s also likely that the backlog drop includes some of the SAVE plan applications that are slated to be cancelled.

The backlog reduction for IDR applications will likely be welcome news to borrowers waiting for decisions on repayment plans that could lower monthly payments or lead to eventual loan forgiveness.

However, for borrowers waiting for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) buyback, the news is not as great. While application processing increased, the backlog significantly increased.

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@thecollegeinvestor The latest Dept of Education IDR and PSLF buyback processing report just posted for August 2025 and here’s what we know. #studentloans #studentloandebt #pslf ♬ original sound – The College Investor

IDR Processing Updates

The agency processed 304,844 applications in July 2025 – the most processed since status reports were required by a lawsuit challenging the Department of Education’s handling of IDR plans. As a result, the IDR backlog fell to 1,386,406, down from more than 1.5 million at the end of June, another low.

This marks one of the strongest single-month reductions since April, when just 79,349 applications were decided. The improvement follows months of uneven performance, in which gains made in May were erased by June’s slowdown.

IDR Processing Backlog

Month

April

May

June

July

Processed

79,349

285,694

186,731

304,844

Backlog

1,985,726

1,582,641

1,511,504

1,386,406

PSLF Buyback Requests Rise

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) buyback program also saw an increase in completed requests during July. The Department processed 3,280 cases, up from 2,224 in June. However, still slightly lower than the May processing of 3,312.

But unlike IDR, the PSLF buyback backlog did not shrink. Pending cases climbed to 72,730, an increase of more than 7,000 from the prior month. 

Processing remains slow. Borrowers have reported wait times of ten months, far longer than the two- to three-month average seen in 2024. A small internal team handles these requests without assistance from loan servicers, limiting how many can be decided each month.

While the processing gains are nice to see, a lot of effort will be needed to clear the backlog.

PSLF Buyback Processing Backlog

Month

April

May

June

July

Processed

1,472

3,312

2,224

3,280

Backlog

49,318

58,716

65,448

72,730

Staffing Changes And Future Processing

The July report comes as the Department prepares for significant changes in staffing and repayment programs. A Supreme Court decision earlier this year cleared the way for planned layoffs, part of a broader restructuring under the Trump administration. The reductions are expected to impact all workload associated with loan forgiveness.

At the same time, the Department is preparing for the end of the SAVE plan and the launch of the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) in 2026. Borrowers currently in forbearance under SAVE may want to switch to other repayment options in the coming months, adding to the processing burden.

While the July numbers for IDR are encouraging, they only represent a single month’s data (just July 2025). If staff reductions proceed as planned, maintaining or improving this pace may prove challenging.

For PSLF buyback applicants, the growing backlog suggests that without additional resources, even incremental gains in processing speed may not be enough to keep up with demand.

What Borrowers Need To Watch

Borrowers waiting on IDR applications or PSLF buyback requests should monitor the Department’s monthly reports to track changes in processing rates and backlog size. 

Public service workers pursuing PSLF buyback should be prepared for long wait times and keep documentation of qualifying employment and payment history. For borrowers who are less than 10 payments away from the 120 mark, it could make sense to switch plans to an active repayment plan and pursue PSLF the “old fashioned way” of simply getting qualifying payments.

With the Department balancing a high workload, reduced staffing, and upcoming policy changes, borrowers could face shifting timelines in the months ahead. The latest figures show that progress is happening but also that improvements in one area do not guarantee faster results across all programs.

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Final PSLF Eligibility Restrictions Move Forward For Comment

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U.S. National Debt Reaches Record $37 Trillion

U.S. National Debt Reaches Record $37 Trillion

Editor: Colin Graves

The post 72,730 Student Loan Borrowers Stuck In Forgiveness Backlog appeared first on The College Investor.

[CT only] Union Savings Bank $300 Checking + Savings Bonus


Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $300
  • Availability: You must be a CT resident, or current USB customer, to apply online. If not CT resident, must apply in-branch.
  • Direct deposit required: Yes, no minimum specified and can get some of the bonus without a direct deposit. 
  • Additional requirements: None
  • Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
  • ChexSystems: Unknown, Sensitive when applying online, not sensitive in branch
  • Credit card funding: None
  • Monthly fees: Avoidable
  • Early account termination fee: None 
  • Household limit: One
  • Expiration date: September 13, 2025

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • Union Savings Bank is offering $150-$300 bonus when you open a new checking account and complete the following requirements:
    • $300 when you open access checking
      • $150 if you make one direct deposit
      • $150 when you open an Access Savings account and keep a $15,000 average balance for 60 days
    • $150 when you open essential checking
      • Get $50 if you make one direct deposit
      • Get $50 when you open a USB Debit Card and make 10 debit card purchases
      • Get $50 when you open an Essential Savings account and keep a $500 average balance for 60 days

The Fine Print

  • To receive up to $150.00 bonus, open a new Essential Checking account (subject to approval) as the primary account holder and deposit $25 or more at account opening; or open a new Core Checking account (subject to approval) as the primary account holder and deposit $10 or more at account opening. Get $50.00 if you make one qualifying direct deposit within 60 days of opening the account; and/or get $50.00 when you open a USB Debit Card and make 10 debit card purchases (signature or PIN) within 60 days of opening the account. ATM transactions do not qualify. Qualifying direct deposits include recurring electronic deposits of payroll, pension or Social Security. Person-to-person, bank transfers or other electronic money transfers, such as those made through internet payment services, do not qualify. Additionally, get $50 when you open an Essential Savings Account as the primary account holder at the same time as the checking account, and maintain a $500 average balance or more for 60 days from the date of account opening. New USB savings customers only.

     

  • To receive up to $300.00 bonus, open a new Access Checking account (subject to approval) as the primary account holder and deposit $50 or more at account opening. Get $150.00 if you make one qualifying direct deposit within 60 days of opening the account. Qualifying direct deposits include recurring electronic deposits of payroll, pension or Social Security. Person-to-person, bank transfers or other electronic money transfers, such as those made through internet payment services, do not qualify. Additionally, get $150.00 when you open a companion Access Savings account as the primary account holder at the same time as the checking account and maintain an average balance of $15,000 or more for 60 days from the date of account opening. New USB savings customers only.

     

  • Offer is valid from June 15, 2025, through September 13, 2025. Offer not available to existing USB personal checking customers (either primary or secondary on the account), or those customers whose personal checking or savings accounts have been closed within the previous 12 months. Limit one offer per customer. Promotion may be canceled without notice. Bonus amounts will be credited to checking and/or savings account between September 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, depending on the date you open the account. Account must be open and in good standing to receive bonus. Bonuses are subject to 1099 IRS reporting requirements. Employees of Union Savings Bank are not eligible.
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

  • Essential checking has no monthly fees
  • Access checking has a $20 monthly fee, waived with any of the following:
    • Maintain a minimum balance of $5,000 OR
    • Maintain combined deposit balances of $25,000, OR
    • Maintain combined deposit and loan balances of $50,000. Loan balances include consumer and residential mortgage loans.

Early Account Termination Fee

I wasn’t able to find any mention of an early account termination fee.

Our Verdict

Previously this was $300/$600 so I don’t think this much smaller bonus is worth considering and won’t be adding it to our best bank account bonuses. 

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:

  • A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
  • Bank Account Quick Reference Table (Spreadsheet) (very useful for sorting bonuses by different parameters)
  • PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
  • Introduction To ChexSystems
  • Banks & Credit Unions That Are ChexSystems Inquiry Sensitive
  • What Banks & Credit Unions Do/Don’t Pull ChexSystems?
  • How To Use Our Direct Deposit Page For Bank Bonuses Page
  • Common Bank Bonus Misconceptions + Why You Should Give Them A Go
  • How Many Bank Accounts Can I Safely Open Within A Year For Bank Bonus Purposes?
  • Affiliate Links & Bank Bonuses – We Won’t Be Using Them
  • Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank
  • Banks That Allow/Don’t Allow Out Of State Checking Applications
  • Bank Bonus Posting Times

Stock market today: Dow futures rise ahead of Powell speech, retail earnings



U.S. stock futures pointed higher on Sunday evening ahead of a critical stretch for markets as investors brace for fresh clues on rate cuts and tariffs.

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 48 points, or 0.11%. S&P 500 futures were up 0.12%, and Nasdaq futures added 0.18%.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury was flat at 4.322%. The U.S. dollar was down 0.07% against the euro but up 0.07% against the yen.

Gold fell 0.25% to $3,374.10 per ounce. U.S. oil prices dropped 0.27% to $62.63 per barrel, and Brent crude fell 0.41% to $65.58.

Energy markets will also be in focus this week amid continued diplomacy to end Russia’s war on Ukraine as harsher U.S. sanctions on Moscow could target its oil exports, though President Donald Trump refrained from announcing any fresh penalties after ceasefire talks Friday failed to produce a deal.

Stocks have notched two consecutive weekly gains, with the S&P 500 hitting a fresh all-time high last week. That’s as corporate earnings have continued to come in strong and as the latest inflation readings were mixed but still haven’t set off panic about the effect of tariffs.

With the labor market also looking weaker, Wall Street overwhelmingly sees the inflation data giving the Federal Reserve a green light to resume rate cuts next month, further fueling market optimism.

But those views will be tested this week. On Wednesday, the Fed will release minutes from its policy meeting in July, when central bankers kept rates steady though two officials dissented. The details should show how much debate occurred and to what extent other policymakers were leaning a certain way.

Then the main attraction will take place on Friday, when Fed Chair Jerome Powell will deliver a speech at a gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The annual event previously has served as an opportunity for policymakers to tease forthcoming rate moves.

Last year, Powell signaled a pivot to cuts, saying “the time has come for policy to adjust” and that “my confidence has grown that inflation is on a sustainable path back to 2%.” But he may not drop big hints this year, potentially setting up Wall Street for major disappointment.

Meanwhile, earnings season is winding down, but the coming week will feature several top retailers. Home Depot reports Tuesday, with Lowe’s and Target due on Wednesday. Walmart will put out its numbers on Thursday.

Their quarterly updates will provide new insights into how much tariffs are affecting prices and who is picking up the extra costs. The precise impact of tariffs on inflation remains somewhat of a mystery.

While companies may be absorbing much of the tariff costs for now, it’s not clear how much longer they can keep it up and how much consumers will be able to shoulder later.

If the retail giants keep eating tariff costs, that will show up on the bottom line and in their guidance. Citi doesn’t expect consumers to get hit with big price hikes in the future, even as more levies are expected to roll out.

“Softer demand means firms will have difficulty passing tariff costs on to consumers,” chief US economist Andrew Hollenhorst said in a note. “While some firms might still attempt to slowly increase prices in coming months, the experience so far suggests these increases will be modest in size. This should reduce concerns about upside risk to inflation and increase concerns that decreased profit margins will cause firms to pullback on hiring.”

Introducing the 2025 Fortune Global 500, the definitive ranking of the biggest companies in the world. Explore this year’s list.

Equipment dealers, lenders lean into e-contracting technology


Equipment dealers and lenders are leaning into e-contracting to meet customers’ needs and take advantage of market opportunities like expanded bonus depreciation and AI improvements.  Technologies such as AI and optical character recognition (OCR) tools are helping to standardize diverse customer inputs — whether they originate from paper, email or digitally — into a single system, […]



Understanding Special Purpose Cash-Out Refinance Rules: Fannie Mae Vs. Freddie Mac


When it comes to a Special Purpose Cash-Out Refinance, it’s essential to know how the guidelines differ between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, especially if you’re dealing with a buyout situation due to a divorce, separation, or change in ownership.

What Is a Special Purpose Cash-Out?

A Special Purpose Cash-Out Refinance is typically used when one co-owner is buying out the other co-owner of a property. This is common in:

  • Divorce or legal separations
  • Partnership dissolutions
  • Family transfers or buyouts

Unlike standard cash-out refinances, the borrower is not receiving cash for general use. The funds are going to another party that is relinquishing ownership.

Fannie Mae Guidelines

Fannie Mae allows a bit more flexibility in ownership and living arrangements:

  • All owners must have owned the property together for at least 12 months, unless the ownership change is due to divorce, legal settlement, or a similar life event
  • No restrictions on occupancy — the owners do not have to have lived in the property
  • No property type restrictions — applies to a broad range of properties

This is often the preferred route when owners haven’t all lived in the home or when dealing with investment properties.

Freddie Mac Guidelines

Freddie Mac’s rules are more restrictive in this case:

  • All owners must have lived in the property together as their primary residence for the past 12 months
  • The transaction must meet the definition of a true buyout of an occupant-owner

If all co-owners haven’t shared the home as their primary residence for at least a year, Freddie Mac will not permit a Special Purpose Cash-Out.

What Both Agencies Require

Despite their differences, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac share key requirements:

  • No cash can be given back to the remaining borrower
  • A written letter of intent must outline the reason for the buyout
  • Specific terms of the agreement between the parties involved must be documented clearly

These safeguards are in place to ensure the refinance serves a special purpose and is not used for unrestricted cash access.

How We Can Help

As a mortgage broker with access to both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lending channels, we can:

  • Assess which agency is the best fit for your unique scenario
  • Connect you with wholesale lenders for faster approvals and better terms
  • Guide you through the documentation required to meet agency guidelines

Contact us to learn how a Special Purpose Cash-Out Refinance could work in your situation, and which agency’s guidelines align best with your needs.

 

Is Bitcoin’s Four-Year Cycle Still Alive? Analyst Hints At An Eventful 100 Days Ahead – Investorempires.com








Is Bitcoin’s Four-Year Cycle Still Alive? Analyst Hints At An Eventful 100 Days Ahead – Investorempires.com







































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