Things To Do In SW Florida

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday, brushing off President Donald Trump’s demands to lower borrowing costs, and said that the risks of both higher unemployment and higher inflation have risen, an unusual combination that puts the central bank in a difficult spot.

The Fed kept its rate at 4.3% for the third straight meeting, after cutting it three times in a row at the end of last year. Many economists and Wall Street investors still expect the Fed will reduce rates this year, but the sweeping tariffs imposed by Trump have injected a tremendous amount of uncertainty into the U.S. economy and the Fed’s policies.

During a press conference after the release of the policy statement, Powell underscored that the tariffs have dampened consumer and business sentiment but have yet to noticeably harm the economy. At the moment, Powell said, there’s too much uncertainty to say how the Fed should react. read more

Brightline, South Florida’s higher speed railroad, on Tuesday announced its long-awaited new round of bundled travel passes for customers after halting an earlier program last year.

The Miami-based company said its new Brightline Passes, which will give passengers a choice of 10-, 20-, and 40-ride options at fixed prices, are now on sale and are hooked up with the railroad’s nascent Brightline Rewards program, where passengers can earn points for future travel.

Prices for the passes start at $239.

“Whether it’s for weekday commutes or weekend escapes, the new Brightline Passes offer a reliable, modern ride with a fixed-rate fare to get frequent travelers where they need to go,” Barbara Drahl, senior vice president, marketing and commercial strategy, said in a statement.

Customers can purchase and manage their passes through the railroad’s website or app. They can also save 5% for future pass purchases by selecting an auto-renew option at checkout.

More options in South Florida

A pricing grid released by the company shows there are multiple pass options for intra-South Florida travel, but only one for travel between the tri-county area and Orlando. In an apparent bid to keep revenue yields higher on its long-haul trains, Brightline is offering only a 10-day pass between all South Florida stations and Central Florida. It sells for $799. read more

By TOM MURPHY, Associated Press

Rite Aid customers can expect their local store to close or change ownership in the next few months, as the struggling drugstore chain goes through another bankruptcy filing.

The company plans to sell customer prescription files, inventory and other assets as it closes distribution centers and unloads store locations. Stores will remain open for now, but the company isn’t buying new inventory so bare shelves are likely become more common.

“I think what we’ll progressively see is the stores will become more and more spartan,” said retail analyst Neil Saunders.

Related Articles

Survey: Most parents teach their kids about saving money

Survey: 43% of Americans say money is negatively impacting their mental health

Give Kids the World selects new CEO

Threatened by Trump tariffs, Japan walks a delicate tightrope between US and China

‘My Social Security is my Social Security’: With Trump, Musk and DOGE, will it stay that way? read more

By Erin El Issa, NerdWallet

Some Americans likely grew up not openly discussing finances at home. According to a new NerdWallet survey conducted online by The Harris Poll, 20% of baby boomer parents (ages 61-79) didn’t teach their children about saving money.

Perhaps because talking about finances has become less taboo, today’s parents of young kids are prioritizing this life lesson: The survey found that 93% of parents of children under 18 have taken action to teach their kids about saving money, like encouraging them to set savings goals (45%) or opening up a savings account for their children to deposit money into (41%).

If you’re a parent who wants to teach your kids about saving money, here are a few options to consider.

1. Set kids up with an age-appropriate savings vehicle

According to the survey, 41% of parents of children under 18 opened a savings account for their kids to deposit money into as a way to teach them about saving. Additionally, some parents of minor children used visual tools — whether physical (38%) or digital (28%) — like piggy banks or savings jars. read more

By Lane Gillespie, Bankrate.com

Paige DeVriendt, a 32-year-old living in Columbus, Ohio, has spent most of her life associating money with shame and anxiety.

Related Articles

• 
  What customers can expect as Rite Aid closes or sells all its drugstores

• 
  Survey: Most parents teach their kids about saving money

• 
  Give Kids the World selects new CEO

• 
  Threatened by Trump tariffs, Japan walks a delicate tightrope between US and China

• 
  ‘My Social Security is my Social Security’: With Trump, Musk and DOGE, will it stay that way?

Today, DeVriendt and her husband both work, bringing in a combined annual salary of around $225,000. With that, they’ve been able to pay their bills, save and invest, all while chipping away at six figures of combined student loan debt. Although she’s been able to comfortably afford her lifestyle, she’s felt shame about money for a long time. Growing up, DeVriendt lived in a small town in northwest Ohio and absorbed a lot of her parents’ financial stress. read more