Federal shutdown imperils SNAP; states brace

 

With a federal shutdown dragging on, SNAP benefits for nearly 42 million Americans could stop Nov. 1, putting families like Shari Jablonowski’s in crisis. The USDA says payments are on hold “until further notice,” blaming Senate Democrats; advocates counter the agency can tap reserves and may be obliged to keep...

Easing Rates Lift U.S. Existing-Home Sales

 

Existing-home sales ticked up 1.5% in September from August to a 4.06 million annual pace, the fastest in seven months, though slightly below forecasts, the National Association of Realtors said. Sales rose 4.1% year over year, with monthly gains led by the West and a dip in the Midwest. Lawrence...

Buyers Wait as Rates Dip, Prices Ease

 

Mortgage rates have slipped to about 6.17%, and nearly three-quarters of agents in CNBC’s Housing Market Survey say buyers expect further declines—keeping many on the sidelines. Affordability remains the top hurdle, with rates the leading worry, despite 44% of agents reporting falling prices and just 20% seeing increases. Agents describe...

EU Leaders Split on 2040 Emissions Target

 

Europe stands at a climate crossroads as the road to net zero grows steeper. EU leaders arrive in Brussels on Thursday divided over how quickly and how far to drive the green transition. At the center is the European Commission’s proposal to cut emissions 90% by 2040 from 1990 levels....

Single-Family Rent Growth Hits 15-Year Low

 

U.S. single-family rents rose 1.4% in August from a year ago, down from July’s 2.3% and the smallest increase in 15 years, Cotality said. Growth cooled across price tiers, with high-end up 1.6% versus 1.1% for low-end. Chicago led at 4.7%, while Dallas fell 0.6% amid a wave of new...

Rural Missouri Food Bank Demand Doubles Amid Cuts

 

At a mobile food bank in Clinton, Missouri, 74-year-old Lorna Hall spent the night in her car as rising costs and shrinking aid deepen rural hunger. Leo and Donita Barnett called the assistance a lifeline among roughly 175 households served that day. Pastor Marty Resz says demand has doubled. Harvesters,...

US Demands EU Ease Rules as CP2 Approved

 

The US and Qatar warned the EU that its corporate sustainability due diligence directive poses an “existential threat” to European economies and urged lawmakers to repeal or pare it back, arguing it would restrict LNG imports. At the same time, the Trump administration granted final export approval for Venture Global’s...

U.S. Debt Tops $38 Trillion Amid Shutdown

 

The U.S. gross national debt has topped $38 trillion for the first time, Treasury data show, as a government shutdown leaves hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid and stalls the economy. Experts warned the impasse adds costs—past closures drained billions, including $11 billion during the 35-day 2018 shutdown. Michael...

Takaichi Orders Inflation Measures, Supplementary Budget

 

Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has ordered a fresh package of economic measures to ease the inflation strain on households and companies. Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female premier on Tuesday, provided no details on the package’s size and gave no indication on whether additional bond issuance will be...

Shutdown, layoffs stall LIHEAP aid as winter nears

 

Millions of Americans may ration heat this winter as a federal shutdown and mass layoffs stall $4bn in LIHEAP aid, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association warned. Congress approved the funds after an unsuccessful bid to cancel the program, but unprecedented staff cuts tied to Trump’s “efficiency” drive — reportedly...