Inflation dropped to a new three-year low in September, according to Paul Davidson. A decrease in gasoline prices countered a rise in costs of used cars and auto insurance. Although price increases slowed down, they did not decline as much as anticipated, and a measure of core price movements actually increased.

Consumer prices overall were up by 2.4% compared to the previous year, as indicated by the Labor Department’s consumer price index, which tracks the costs of various goods and services. This marks the smallest yearly rise since February 2021, and it’s the sixth consecutive decline, keeping inflation slightly above the Fed’s target of 2%. Many economists had predicted a more significant decrease.

Tax Deadline Extensions for Disaster-Affected Individuals

For many, October brings anxiety about approaching tax deadlines, especially with the October 15th cutoff looming for six-month filing extensions. However, if you have been affected by hurricanes or other severe weather events, you now have a new deadline for your 2023 tax returns, as reported by Susan Tompor.

This year’s string of severe weather events—including storms, tornadoes, flooding, wildfires, and mudslides—has prompted the IRS to offer extensions to numerous communities. The deadlines for submitting taxes will vary based on the disaster type and the local area. It’s essential to check which extended deadline applies to your region as they can even differ within the same state.

Are Payment Apps as Safe as You Think?

Sandy Sans successfully rented a ski cabin in Lake Tahoe for several years through Craigslist and used Zelle, a digital payment app linked to his bank, for transactions.

However, in 2018, as his check-in date approached, he began to feel uneasy about the landlord he was communicating with. After conducting further investigation, he discovered that he was actually dealing with a scammer.

As digital payments become more common, services like Zelle, Venmo, Apple Pay, and Cash App claim to have taken numerous security measures for consumer protection. Nonetheless, Consumer Reports argues that these measures may not be sufficient.

About The Daily Money

Every weekday, The Daily Money presents the finest consumer and financial news from YSL News, simplifying complex situations, providing quick summaries, and showing how events, from Fed rate adjustments to bankruptcies, affect you.