Economics

• The biggest news this week is the bigger than expected increase in the CPI announced this morning. The 6.8% annualized increase last month is the largest since November 1982. (CNBC)
• A Wealth of Common Sense’s Ben Carlson looks at the relationship between inflation and interest rates in his latest piece. Will Government Bond yields now rise?
• Weekly initial unemployment claims drop to the lowest level since 1969. (Reuters)
• Excess savings from the Pandemic are now dwindling for many. (NYT-subscription may be required)
• The business travel industry may never recover. Forbes reports that 39% of business travelers will never make another trip.

FinTech

• Knowledge@Wharton summarizes a paper suggesting that those who use FinTech apps for cashless payments are better positioned to get FinTech loans.

Cryptocurrency

• Crypto Executives appear at a Congressional hearing as Congress considers regulation. And a new group of lobbyists is forming. (Reuters, WSJ – subscription may be required.)

Career

• Starbucks workers in a corporate-owned Buffalo store became the first to vote to unionize. What does this mean for Starbucks and worker in general? (Vox)

Student Loans

• There is a new income-based payment plan available for student loans. Adam Minsky breaks it down for Forbes.
  

Higher Ed

• The latest trend on college campuses appears to be investment clubs. (NASDAQ)

Personal Finance

• According to a Lending Tree survey, a surprising percentage of people turn to the stars (zodiac, not Hollywood) for guidance.

Teens

• The Surgeon General issued a public health advisory (a 53-page report) warning of the growing mental health crisis among teens. The pandemic has exacerbated this crisis. The statistics are alarming. (NYT)

About the Author

Beth Tallman

Beth Tallman entered the working world armed with an MBA in finance and thoroughly enjoyed her first career working in manufacturing and telecommunications, including a stint overseas. She took advantage of an involuntary separation to try teaching high school math, something she had always dreamed of doing. When fate stepped in once again, Beth jumped on the opportunity to combine her passion for numbers, money, and education to develop curriculum and teach personal finance at Oberlin College. Beth now spends her time writing on personal finance and financial education, conducts student workshops, and develops finance curricula and educational content. She is also the Treasurer of Ohio Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.