Noon Minute Fee for Week Ending February 27
Every weekend, I recap the “news you can use” of the week – a few quotes from major (and often expensive) financial news sources – so you can stay up-to-date on news that affects your money without spending a dime and in less than a minute.
Here is a summary of what happened this week.
Wholesale Inflation Rises in January More Than Forecast (Feb 27, Barron’s)
The producer price index for final demand rose 0.5% in January, up from December’s revised monthly 0.4%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday morning. That translated to an annual rate of 2.9%, compared to the 3% rate posted at the end of 2025.
Core PPI—which excludes prices of food, energy, and trade services—rose 0.3% month-on-month in January, pushing the annual increase to 3.4%, the bureau reported.
US Jobless Claims Hit 212,000 Over Holiday Week (Feb 26, Bloomberg)
Claims for US jobless benefits rose less than expected last week, indicating that layoffs remain low.
Initial claims rose 4,000 to 212,000 in the week ended Feb. 21, according to Labor Department data released Thursday. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for 216,000.
Prices, 401(k)s, Shouts: Key Takeaways from Trump’s Speech (Feb 25, Bloomberg)
And at more than 1 hour 47 minutes, the longest State of the Union in history, the president delivered a rally-like speech marked less by policy proposals than political attacks.
Trump announces 401(k) plans with $1,000 match for workers whose employers don’t contribute (Feb 25, MarketWatch)
The White House plans to create employee retirement savings plans without employer access, offering up to $1,000 a year in matching funds.
Critics question the administration’s authority to fund new retirement accounts; other programs include “Trump’s accounts” and checking the Australian system.
US Consumer Confidence Rises on Strong Job Prospects (Feb 24, Bloomberg)
The Conference Board’s gauge rose to 91.2, from a revised high of 89 last month, data showed Tuesday. The latest figure was above all but one estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists.
“Comments about prices, inflation, and the cost of goods are always on the minds of consumers,” said Dana Peterson, an economist at the Conference Board, in a statement. “There was also an increase in February in terms of trade and politics.”
More than 80% say affordability has not improved under Trump, a YouGov-MarketWatch exclusive found (Feb 24, MarketWatch)
The president has campaigned on assurances that he will solve affordability challenges by 2024, and he could outline his record on these issues in his State of the Union address on Tuesday. However, in a YouGov survey carried out this month exclusively for MarketWatch, around 47% of respondents said affordability had worsened in the past year. Meanwhile, 36% said it has remained the same, and about 18% said accessibility has improved.
Consumers said grocery prices, insurance, drug prices, rent, and saving to buy a home were the top challenges to affordability. For those choosing insurance, car insurance was the most common concern, followed by health insurance and homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.
Mortgage rates recently fell below 6%, matching the lowest level since 2022 (Feb 23, CNBC)
The average rate on the popular 30-year bond fell to 5.99% on Monday. That’s the lowest since 2022.
Applications for home loan refinancing are almost 130% higher than last year.
Europe hits back at ‘clean tariff chaos’ from US, warns trade deals at risk (Feb 23, CNBC)
The president responded to the Supreme Court’s decision by announcing a new 10% global tax, using a different legal framework for recent tariffs, but then raised the global tax rate to 15% — a legal amount that could be in place 150 days before Congress approves it.
Officials in Europe and London have expressed shock and dismay at the latest upheaval in global trade relations, saying Trump’s new tariff policy could derail trade deals signed with the US last year.
