WSJ Your Money Matters

After a sharp run-up during the pandemic, monthly rents for new apartment leases are beginning to come down. WSJ housing reporter Will Parker joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what’s driving the declines, and what it means for the rental market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More companies are finding ways to trim their staff without classifying them as layoffs. WSJ careers and management reporter Chip Cutter joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why, and the tactics companies are using to shed workers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With tax refunds expected to be lower this year, an often overlooked move can help lower your overall tax bill. WSJ personal-finance reporter Ashlea Ebeling discusses with host J.R. Whalen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The deadline to file income taxes this year is April 18. Wall Street Journal reporter Laura Saunders joins Your Money Briefing host J.R. Whalen to discuss how the WSJ’s annual Tax Guide can help you avoid confusion and pitfalls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin losing more than a trillion dollars in value last year, some investors didn’t sell and are likely to buy more . WSJ personal-finance reporter Joe Pinsker joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why they are unswayed by the high risk.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In one of the largest trials of a four-day week to date, British businesses gave their 2,900 workers a paid day off a week to see whether they could get just as much done while working less, but more effectively. WSJ writer and editor Vanessa Furhmans joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the results of the study, and whether businesses are likely to adapt the plan going forward.  Learn more about you...

As people live longer and healthier lives, younger age groups will likely have to plan to work for 60 years . WSJ contributor Carol Hymowitz joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how workers can prepare for an extra-long career timeline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People with low credit scores are having more trouble paying their auto loans than at any time since 2010 . Wall Street Journal consumer finance reporter Gina Heeb joins Danny Lewis to discuss what this means for consumers and the economy at large. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Several U.S. states have gotten the green light from the Biden Administration to tap into Medicaid funds to give residents access to sufficient food . WSJ’s Stephanie Armour joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the program.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden has called for the rolling back of what he calls “junk fees,” that often get tacked on to things like airline tickets or hotel room charges. WSJ’s Allison Pohle joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how regulation of these fees would affect consumers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The IRS delayed by one year a law requiring e-commerce platforms such as eBay and Etsy to supply it with information on users with more than $600 in revenue. WSJ personal finance reporter Ashlea Ebeling joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why some people in that category are still expected to pay taxes on the income. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though the S&P 500 has risen about 7% since the start of 2023, many investors are pulling money out of funds that track U.S. stocks . WSJ markets reporter Hannah Miao joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss where they’re placing their bets, and why they’re unsettled by curr ent market conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arguments regarding President Biden’s plan to cancel $20,000 in debt for some student loan borrowers will be heard by the Supreme Court later this month . WSJ reporter Gabriel T. Rubin tells host J.R. Whalen the upcoming cancellation of the Covid-19 national emergency declaration could cast doubt on the fate of the debt cancellation plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

While many companies hired more than a million workers over the past several months, others have been laying off thousands of employees . WSJ’s Sarah Chaney Cambon joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the state of the U.S. labor market and what it means for the broader economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The next phase of the Biden Administration’s program that changes the way medical debt is recorded on credit reports is underway. NerdWallet personal finance expert Sara Rathner joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what this could mean for many Ameircans’ credit scores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federal Reserve says worker pay in the U.S. is rising too fast for it to bring inflation down to 2% . WSJ Heard on the Street columnist Justin Lahart joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how workers’ share of the economy continues to shrink, despite rising hourly wages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As car dealers rebuild their inventories, prospective buyers are putting off purchases because of high prices coupled with rising interest rates . WSJ reporter Sean McLain joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how dealers plan to entice buyers, and how consumers can avoid rising rates.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mortgage rates have fallen a full percentage point since last fall, and that has stirred up activity in the housing market which fell into a slump last year. WSJ’s Ben Eisen joins host J.R. Whalen with an outlook for the housing market in 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing financial strain and looser regulations are driving more Americans to make early withdrawals from their 401(k) retirement accounts . WSJ retirement reporter Anne Tergesen joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the risks people should consider before taking money out.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grocery Prices May Soon Reflect Lower Inflation Whole Foods recently asked its suppliers to rein in the costs it passes on to the grocery chain. WSJ reporter Jaewon Kang joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what that means for consumers’ grocery bills. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress recently passed a broad set of rule changes that affect Americans’ 401(k) and retirement accounts, to make it easier for people to sign up . WSJ personal finance reporter Ashlea Ebeling joins host J.R. Whalen with details.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite a still-strong labor market, retail purchases have fallen in three of the past four months, and sales of autos and existing homes have fallen to their lowest levels in several years . WSJ economics reporter Harriet Torry joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the substantial dropoff in consumer spending, and whether it likely means a recession is imminent.  Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Researchers suggest that time is something we should invest, rather than spend, to accumulate wealth, fulfillment and meaning that our future selves can draw on . WSJ personal-finance reporter Joe Pinsker joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how it can help us understand investing money as well.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As more Americans grow weary of inflation, some are cutting back on everyday goods so they can splurge on expensive items . Host J.R. Whalen is joined by WSJ reporter Rachel Wolfe, and Atlanta resident Lamont Johnson, who’s treated himself to several luxury items.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investors added cash to global money-market funds over the past four weeks at levels not seen since May of 2020 . WSJ markets reporter Hardika Singh joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how cash delivers better returns than many stocks in the current market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices