Thursday, July 6, 2023

The Daily Money: Americans are working fewer hours. Here's why.

Mail theft is becoming a widespread problem as thieves steal checks from collection boxes. The Postal Service is trying to combat the trend.

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The Daily Money

ALL THE MONEY NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Thu Jul 6 2023

 

Paul Davidson  Economics and Jobs Reporter

Syndication The Columbus Dispatch

Mail carrier Edward Medley of Groveport, Ohio, loads his delivery truck with mail and packages for his Obetz route behind the South Columbus, Ohio branch of the United States Postal Service

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch

Happy Wednesday, Daily Money readers. Hope you had a great July 4th holiday.

As if we all didn't have enough to worry about these days, here's something you probably didn't anticipate: The check you sent in the mail could be stolen.

Neither snow nor rain are posing much of a hurdle for mail carriers but mail theft and armed robbery represent a growing problem. There were more than 25,000 high-volume mail thefts , including from collection boxes, in the first half of fiscal 2023, compared to 38,500 for all of fiscal 2022, the U.S. Postal Service said.

The Postal Service plans to combat the trend with more secure collection boxes and replacing older key locks with electronic locks. Thieves have robbed letter carriers of the keys and then stolen mail from the receptacles.

Insurance firms leave California due to wildfire risk

As wildfires become more common in California, some insurance companies are opting not to renew or write new homeowner policies in the state.

With more than 1.2 million California homes at risk of extreme wildfire, State Farm and Allstate have pulled out of new coverage in the most populous state, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

There are steps homeowners can take to protect their property and possibly reduce premiums, such as removing all vegetation from the area near the building and installing noncombustible material such as gravel or paving stones.

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A move from California to Texas could save a million dollars. Many Americans are opting in.

Is too much farmland owned by foreigners? New worries emerge over Chinese ownership

Recall alert

The maker of the Belvita Breakfast Sandwich this week announced the recall of two products that may contain undeclared peanuts arising from cross contact on a manufacturing line.

The recall is for the Belvita Breakfast Sandwich Cinnamon Brown Sugar with Vanilla Creme and the Belvita Breakfast Sandwich Dark Chocolate Creme with a "best when used by" date prior to Feb. 26, 2024.

People with a severe sensitivity or a peanut allergy who consume the products may risk serious or life-threatening allergic reactions.

About The Daily Money

Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer news from USA TODAY. We break down financial news and provide the TLDR version: how decisions by the Federal Reserve, government and companies impact you.

President Joe Biden speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Friday, June 30, 2023, in Washington. The Biden administration is moving forward on a new student debt relief plan after the Supreme Court struck down his original initiative to provide relief to 43 million borrowers. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) ORG XMIT: DCEV431

A federal judge restricted the Biden administration from talking to social media platforms about content moderation on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

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This file illustration photo taken on January 12, 2023 in Toulouse, southwestern France, shows a smartphone and a computer screen displaying the logos of Instagram app and its parent company Meta.
 

Facebook's Twitter rival is here: What to know about Threads

Facebook owner Meta launched a Twitter competitor Wednesday that piggybacks on Instagram, extending Mark Zuckerberg's rivalry with Elon Musk.

Scientists in Japan have created Jizai Arms, a set of interchangeable robot arms that can be worn like a backpack.
 

Japanese researchers develop wearable robotic arms

The device is rooted in the idea of "jizai," a Japanese term that roughly defines autonomy and the freedom to do as one pleases.

Passengers look at the monitor displaying delayed flights at Ben Gurion airport, near Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, March 27, 2023. Israeli Airports Authority says flights out of main international airport have been grounded following strike cal. Israel's largest trade union group launched a strike across a broad swath of sectors, joining a surging protest movement against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to overhaul the judiciary.
 

If your flight is delayed, you may be eligible for compensation

Delay compensation policies vary by airline, and some are a lot more passenger-friendly than others.

The Tree of Life is a popular hub at Animal Kingdom and houses in its base the 3D movie, "It's Tough to be a Bug."
 

Hot weather tips for Disney World: Where to cool off at Florida parks

When the heat is on in the midst of a Florida summer, where can fans of the Moues & Co. find cool respite at Walt Disney World?

Gavel and Small Model House on Wooden Table.
 

Can an HOA recover legal fees from a homebuyer it sues?

Who is responsible for the legal fees in a dispute between a homeowner association and a homebuyer? Find out in this week's real estate law column.

Standard FDIC insurance of $250,000 per depositor per bank is sufficient to cover potential losses for most customers.
 

Where is the economy headed? Watch these 4 factors.

Bank stability, inflation, recession fears and politics will play a role in determining where the economy goes for the remainder of the year.

The Mize home in Edmond since 1999.
 

Can we blame boomers for the housing shortage? Sort of.

Boomers hold 44% of real estate wealth in the United States, a study shows. What that means for the housing market.

Southwest employee Shannon Longoria, left, tries to help Southwest passengers Jacy Roffman, center and her Husband Nick Geinosky, right, find their luggage at the baggage claim using apple airtags at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, in Austin, Texas. The couple was headed to Las Vegas from Orlando Fl. to celebrate their one year wedding anniversary and has been stuck in Austin for four days. Jacy Roffman, says that she could   not find any help with southwest customer service until Southwest employee Shannon Longoria arrived to help. The U.S. Department of Transportation says it will look into flight cancellations by Southwest that have left travelers stranded at airports across the country amid an intense winter storm.
 

How should you deal with rude customers? Expert weighs in.

Service industry workers often become the target of customers' ire, with hostile behavior creating a toxic work environment, affecting well-being.

FILE - In this May 19, 2019, file photo, a line of unsold 2019 Tucson sports-utility vehicles sits at a Hyundai dealership in Littleton, Colo. With the cost to own a new vehicle rising, it's more important than ever to consider what youâ??ll pay for a car loan and to shop for the best interest rate. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
 

Why the cost of buying a new car just soared

The number of car buyers paying $1,000 a month in auto loan financing has hit an all-time high, driven up by car shortages and high interest rates.

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