Financial Literacy

• ICYMI--Here is a link to Tim Ranzetta’s piece for The Street.

Economics

• This week marked Fed Independence Day (Happy 70^th!). Here is a Planet Money episode explaining what that is all about.
• Speaking of the Fed, Jerome Powell’s comments yesterday about the potential for some inflation as the economy restarts sent markets moving. (CNBC)
• For more on Powell’s message stressing patience, read the NYT explanation.
• Initial jobless claims last week persist at historically high levels. DOL.
• However, February saw a much higher than expected increase in jobs (379,000), most in restaurants and bars (and not full-time). (NBC)
• Which states have the largest percentage of unemployed workers getting benefits? (MarketWatch)

Investing

• Morning Brew answers the question “Why is everyone so concerned about the 10-year Treasury yield? Why does it matter so much?”
• This infographic from Visual Capitalist might help you explain the difference between a stock’s value and its price.

Bitcoin

• This is an interesting look at Bitcoin presents two competing theories behind bitcoin’s price: speculative, bubble or predictably cyclical? “Bitcoin is not the Bitcoin Price.” (Forbes)
• For you “bubble” proponents, prices dropped late last week. (Reuters)

Home Ownership

• Mortgage interest rates topped 3% for the first time in quite awhile. (Yahoo Finance)
• Housing inventory is way down, and prices are up. (Ritholz.com)

Retirement

• Social Security Fact sheets are updated. (Investment News)

Budgeting

• Stockton, California experimented with a universal basic income. Read about its success. (NPR)
• Putting the minimum wage into perspective: from the WSJ

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.