The Money Section | What’s next for interest rates?

͏Also, Macy’s just got a HUGE buyout offer. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ [The Charlotte Observer]( December 13, 2023 • Issue #63 [The Money Section] This week, we’re looking at Macy’s HUGE buyout offer, what’s next for interest rates as we head into 2024, and whether the world economy is on the brink of a “Cold War 2.” These states are most likely to become “blue zones.” [blue zones]( Money; Shutterstock; Getty Images A new report identifies California, Minnesota, and Utah as states where residents tend to have long and healthy lives, potentially becoming future “Blue Zones.” This concept, popularized by author Dan Buettner, refers to regions with lower chronic disease rates and longer life expectancies. [See which factors are evaluated.]( 💰 Macy’s just got a HUGE buyout offer. Macy’s has received a $5.8 billion buyout offer from Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management, with the retail giant’s board currently mulling it over. It’s a generous offer, but Macy’s board [has much to consider.]( 😕 What’s next for interest rates? When Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell addresses the public today, the question of when the Fed will start cutting interest rates will be paramount. [Here are the three potential scenarios for the coming year.]( Mortgage rates and home prices for 2024. [2024]( Rangely García for Money Real estate companies Redfin and Zillow predict some improvement in the real estate market in 2024, foreseeing a reversal in rising home prices and low inventory. They anticipate potential sellers to list their homes due to growing impatience with waiting for lower mortgage rates, leading to increased supply and price competition. [Read more.]( ❄ Inflation’s cooling down for the holidays. Inflation data for November saw a slight cooldown to 3% from the previous month. The report comes a day before the Federal Reserve decides on a potential escalation of interest rate hikes. However, despite a significant fall from the summer peak of 9%, inflation remains more than [a percentage point higher than the Fed’s target.]( 📈 3 sectors accounted for most of November’s job growth. In November, nearly all job growth in the economy was concentrated in three sectors: health care, government employment, and leisure and hospitality. This pattern has been consistent throughout the year, with these sectors (along with private education employment) responsible for 81% of all jobs created in 2023. [See what this data suggests.]( New FIRE movement just dropped. [FIRE]( Rangely García for Money The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement is seeing an alternative called Coast FIRE. Unlike traditional FIRE’s focus on rapid early retirement, Coast FIRE emphasizes frontloading retirement savings early in one’s career, enabling individuals to “coast” into retirement with compounding growth. [Here’s what you need to know.]( ✂ How many times will the Fed cut rates? Analysts on Wall Street are forecasting significant interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in 2024, as the central bank has made progress in lowering inflation without hurting the labor market and broader economy. [See the different predictions made by financial institutions.]( ⚠ Is the world economy on the brink of “Cold War 2”? The world economy is at risk of a second Cold War that could erase the progress made since the collapse of the Soviet Union, warned Gita Gopinath, the IMF’s first deputy managing director. Gopinath highlighted the accelerating fragmentation of the world economy into regional power blocs centered around the U.S. and China, which could wipe out [trillions of dollars in global output.]( Smart Money Move Simplify your banking today [Banking] [Banking]Experience banking made easy with checking accounts. Access your funds, make deposits, withdraw cash, and transfer money effortlessly online. Whether you’re shopping in-store or online, your debit card provides the convenience you need. Also, you could even generate some risk-free income on the side.of dollars in interest fees – and could open doors to better credit terms. [See our list of the Best Checking Accounts featuring no minimum balance and no monthly or overdraft fees.]( Stories we're reading this week - [Investing in CDs Is Not Exciting — but It’s a Great Move Right Now]( - [Tiktok To Invest $1.5b In Goto’s Indonesia E-Commerce Business Tokopedia]( - [Student Loan Borrowers Are Cutting Expenses to Afford Their Monthly Payments]( - [Regulators Caught Wells Fargo, Other Banks In Probe Over Mortgage Pricing Discrimination]( - [What Is the Earned Income Tax Credit, and How Does It Work?]( - [Argentina Markets Want Fiscal ‘Kick’ To Economy As Milei Shock Plan Readied]( - [What Is Medicare and How Does it Work?]( The Money Section is written in partnership with Money Research Collective This email was sent to {EMAIL} because you are signed up to receive marketing emails or newsletters from The Charlotte Observer. If you no longer wish to receive emails of this type, you may [unsubscribe]( or [update your email preferences](. 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