This Week in Money (July 3, 2026)
- Jul 3
- 2 min read
Here are a few of the stories in money you may have missed this past week.
U.S. markets will be closed today, in observance of Independence Day. 🎉
On Thursday, U.S. stocks finished mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average setting another record. The index rose 1.1% to 52,900.07, boosted by steady gains in several large companies.
The S&P 500 ended the session essentially flat, edging up less than 0.1% to 7,483.24, even though most stocks in the index actually rose. Roughly seven out of every 10 stocks in the index finished higher, though declines in a few large technology names helped hold back broader gains.
The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.8% to 25,382.67.
For decades, economic theory suggested that higher interest rates would encourage people to save more by rewarding delayed spending. However, South Africa’s experience tells a different story. Despite significant interest rate hikes, household savings have continued to decline, with many families now spending more than they earn.
This article argues that financial behavior is driven less by interest rates and more by everyday realities, habits, emotions, and social pressures.
Retirement planning isn’t just about having enough money, it’s also about aligning expectations. This article explores what happens when one partner is ready to retire while the other wants to keep working, often due to different attitudes toward financial security or risk.
This article explores 25 economic principles that influence the choices we make every day, often without us realizing it. From the sunk cost fallacy and opportunity cost to supply and demand, incentives, and compound interest, these concepts explain why we spend, save, procrastinate, negotiate, and even stick with bad decisions.
Learning these principles can help you recognize common decision-making traps, make more thoughtful choices, and see everyday situations through a more informed, more practical lens.
This article takes a closer look at June’s jobs report, which painted a mixed picture of the U.S. labor market. While the unemployment rate dipped to 4.2%, job growth came in below expectations, and more than 720,000 people left the workforce in June.
This article offers practical ways to keep your home cool while managing higher electricity costs during this summer’s heat wave. With cooling expenses expected to rise more than 10% compared to last year, energy experts recommend making small adjustments rather than sacrificing comfort.
Recommendations include gradually increasing your thermostat by one degree every few days until it reaches a maximum of 78°F. According to energy economist Mark Wolfe, each one-degree increase can lower your cooling costs by about 3%.
Until next week - stay informed, stay intentional. ✨
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