Personal Finance News
News and analysis from the DWS News Desk. Federal Reserve decisions, IRS rule changes, mortgage rate moves, consumer credit data — paraphrased from primary sources and connected to the free tools and guides on this site.
Credit Card Delinquencies Just Hit a 15-Year High — How to Tell If You're at Risk
The New York Fed's Q1 2026 report shows credit card 90-plus-day delinquencies at 13.1 percent — the highest in 15 years. Total balances fell on a seasonal pattern, but the underlying distress signal is real.
Inflation Just Jumped to 3.8 Percent — One Bad Month Isn't a Crisis, But It's Not Nothing
April CPI rose 0.6 percent month-over-month, pushing the 12-month rate to 3.8 percent — the highest since May 2023. Core inflation tells a calmer story than the headline.
Mortgage Rates Tick Up to 6.37 Percent — What Freddie Mac's Latest Survey Actually Says
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.37 percent the week of May 7, up from 6.30 percent the previous week. Both 30-year and 15-year rates remain well below year-ago levels.
Treasury Sets New I Bond Rate at 4.26 Percent — What the Math Tells You
Series I savings bonds issued from May through October 2026 will earn a composite 4.26 percent. The fixed-rate component of 0.90 percent matters more for long-term holders than the headline.
The Fed Just Held Rates — But the Dissent Vote Says More Than the Decision
Four FOMC members dissented at the April 29 meeting, the most since 1992. The committee is internally split on whether to cut, and on whether the statement should signal future easing at all.
The CFPB Just Rewrote Its Fair Lending Rule — What Borrowers Should Actually Know
The April 22 final rule narrows federal ECOA enforcement to intentional discrimination. Most consumer protections remain unchanged — state laws and core ECOA rights still apply.