Did the Fed raise interest rates? Yes. The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark federal funds rate by 0.25 percentage point on September 16, 2026, moving the target range from 3.50%-3.75% to 3.75%-4.00%. The unanimous decision marked the first Fed rate increase since July 2023 and came as inflation remained above the central bank’s 2% goal. … Read more
How to refinance student loans is an increasingly important question for U.S. borrowers as private refinance rates, federal repayment rules, and borrowing costs continue to change in 2026. The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate by 0.25 percentage point on September 16, while private student-loan refinancing offers remain highly dependent on credit, income, loan term … Read more
Do student loans affect your credit score? Yes, and the impact can work in either direction. A student loan that is managed responsibly can contribute to a positive credit history, while missed payments and default can create serious credit problems. As federal borrowers continue navigating repayment in 2026, understanding how education debt appears on credit … Read more
PERM Status Check is the process of tracking a U.S. Department of Labor permanent labor certification application after an employer submits Form ETA-9089. As of the latest update, the Department of Labor’s Foreign Labor Application Gateway, or FLAG, provides the main online case-status tool for PERM applications filed through the current system. The latest published … Read more
Visa bulletin october 2026 predictions point to a potentially important reset for employment-based green card applicants when Fiscal Year 2027 begins on October 1. The official October bulletin has not been released yet, so no October cutoff dates are confirmed. However, the September 2026 bulletin provides the latest baseline, while the State Department has already … Read more
Investors searching for the Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund are increasingly focused on its strong long-term record, technology-heavy portfolio and exposure to companies benefiting from artificial intelligence. The fund, which trades under the ticker FBGRX, has continued to deliver substantial gains in 2026, although recent market swings highlight the risks that come with a concentrated … Read more
Benefits of refinancing student loans can include a lower interest rate, reduced monthly payments, a shorter payoff period, and simpler debt management. For borrowers with strong credit, stable income, and private student debt, refinancing can potentially reduce the overall cost of repayment. However, refinancing federal student loans into a private loan can mean giving up … Read more
As of September 7, 2026, 2027 Social Security COLA projections point to a potential increase of about 3.6%, based on the latest estimate from The Senior Citizens League. The estimate is not yet the official Social Security cost-of-living adjustment because the government still needs the complete third-quarter inflation data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is … Read more
Labor Day 2026 falls on Monday, September 7, and most public schools across the United States are closed that day. School districts generally include Labor Day as a no-school holiday on their academic calendars, giving students and many school employees a three-day weekend. However, there is no single nationwide school calendar, so families should check … Read more
Is Chick-fil-A open on Labor Day? Yes. Chick-fil-A restaurants in the United States are scheduled to be open on Labor Day 2026, which falls on Monday, September 7. Chick-fil-A’s official holiday guidance confirms that its U.S. restaurants operate on Labor Day, although individual restaurant hours can vary by location. Labor Day is one of the … Read more