Your Money Minute

Chris Wheat, president of the JPMorgan Chase Institute, studies household finances and economic trends. Sharon Epperson, CNBC’s senior personal finance correspondent, covers investing and retirement. They explore how rising investment withdrawals are fueling consumer spending, why older and wealthier Americans lead the trend, and how younger families are seeing their net worth decline.

Rising diesel prices are moving beyond the pump and into everyday shopping carts. Explore how truck transportation costs could affect groceries, why food-at-home prices may climb sharply, and how Kroger is turning to job cuts, streamlined operations, and AI as it navigates higher costs.

Sebastian Burtemeier, executive director of the International Center for Pension Management, discusses the global pension funding crisis. Topics include Social Security’s looming reserve shortfall, how longer lifespans and declining birth rates strain retirement systems, rising healthcare costs, and why pension funds are taking greater investment risks.

Before rolling your 401(k) into an IRA, consider what you might be giving up. This quick discussion explores institutional pricing, potentially lower fees in employer plans, and reasons to leave retirement savings where they are after changing jobs. It also examines how rollover marketing can make an optional move seem essential.

With at least 60% of Americans invested in stocks, the line between Wall Street and Main Street is blurring. Could a market wobble curb consumer spending and slow growth? The discussion weighs that risk against low unemployment, solid employment, and the question of how households might respond to a genuine downturn.

New-car prices have surged beyond $50,000, with GM’s average transaction price nearing $52,000. Pricing still varies widely depending on the vehicle and available incentives. Meanwhile, hybrids are gaining ground, commanding a record 16% market share, selling quickly, and averaging around $45,500.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the cybersecurity battle. The discussion explores how defenders can use AI offensively to test systems, the rise of autonomous hacking, and why offensive capabilities may be advancing faster than defensive protections. Plus, a look at where to follow the latest AI developments.

Peter Schachnow, a CNBC journalist covering business, technology, and personal finance, explores AI-powered restaurant reservations. He looks at OpenTable’s partnership with Meta’s Muse AI for discovering and booking tables. He also covers how human verification could help curb reservation scalping while opening new ways for diners to find restaurants.

Peter Schachnow, a CNBC journalist covering business, markets, and personal finance, explores the surprising state of airfare prices. Despite a sharp rise this year, fares may still be historically affordable when compared with pre-pandemic levels. He also discusses comments from United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby and what travelers should know before booking.

Consumers continue spending confidently as gasoline prices climb. The discussion explores strong retail sales, the role of employment, wages, and available cash, and how fuel costs may be squeezing discretionary purchases. It also examines steady underlying demand beneath volatile spending categories.