Sarah Mitchell
According to Investopedia and Reuters, U.S. stock futures pointed lower early Friday while oil prices extended a sharp rally tied to the expanding Middle East conflict, setting up another volatile session as the February jobs report lands at 8:30 a.m. ET. Investors are trying to weigh two inflation signals at once: a sudden energy shock … Read more
According to the Social Security Administration, Medicare’s income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) is calculated using the most recent federal tax return the IRS provides—often from two years earlier. That timing can surprise people who had a one-time income spike, then moved into a lower-income year. The result is a higher Medicare Part B premium and … Read more
Some March 2026 benefit payments will hit accounts earlier than expected because March 1 falls on a Sunday, the Social Security Administration’s payment calendar shows. That shifts the March Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment to Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, and some households that receive both SSI and Social Security may see deposits just days apart. … Read more
SSI payments for March 2026 are scheduled for Friday, February 27, because March 1 falls on a Sunday, according to the Social Security Administration’s 2026 payment calendar. Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability benefits are then paid on March 3, March 11, March 18, or March 25 depending on when you started benefits and your … Read more
As of March 3, 2026, many taxpayers checking the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tracker are seeing the message “still being processed” instead of an approval date. The IRS says most refunds go out within 21 days for e-filed returns with direct deposit, but some returns need extra review and take longer. In most cases, the … Read more
In the 2026 filing season, the IRS said some refunds can be put on hold when direct-deposit details are missing or rejected, with taxpayers directed to fix it after receiving a CP53E notice. The notice gives a 30-day window to add or update banking information online, and the IRS says a paper check may be … Read more
European natural gas prices surged on March 2, 2026, after QatarEnergy said it halted liquefied natural gas production following attacks on its facilities, Euronews reported. Dutch TTF gas was up as much as 45% to around €46 per megawatt-hour, a move that quickly rippled into the U.K. market. The spike adds new uncertainty for Europe’s … Read more
On March 2, U.S. stock futures fell while oil jumped after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and fresh disruption in the Strait of Hormuz rattled global markets. The bigger signal may be oil, not the early drop in futures, because a longer stay near $80-$90 crude could hit gasoline prices, weaken hopes for Fed … Read more
Oil already jumped, shipping risk escalated, Hormuz disruption looks more operational than hypothetical. According to Reuters, the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, escalating Middle East tensions and putting oil supply risks back at the center of market pricing. Brent crude was trading around $73 a barrel on Feb. … Read more
According to G2 Risk Solutions’ January filing data released on Feb. 25, 2026, U.S. commercial bankruptcy filings jumped 49% from a year earlier. The spike is a stress signal for retail because chains run on fixed costs—leases, labor, and inventory financing—and weak quarters can turn into liquidity problems fast. The next question investors and shoppers are asking is … Read more