Your Money Minute

Liz Knieve, a CNBC Select reporter covering personal finance, explores how broken or unwanted gold and silver jewelry can become extra cash. She discusses mail-in refining through Alloy Market, how evaluations and payouts work, and what sellers should know about scrap value, resale bonuses, and choosing a reputable service.

Buying a home is getting tougher as mortgage rates approach a three-year high, pushing monthly payments higher for first-time buyers. Meanwhile, homeowners with ultra-low two- and three-percent loans are staying put, creating a frozen market with limited inventory. The discussion also puts today’s rates in historical perspective.

Wages are struggling to keep pace with rising consumer prices, leaving families with less purchasing power. The discussion explores weakening pay growth, six months of declining real wages, and the contrast between a sluggish everyday economy and Wall Street’s apparent boom.

Job cuts remain unusually low, even as September’s hiring numbers point to a softer labor market. The discussion explores weak job growth, limited business expansion, and why AI and healthcare are standing out while other sectors lag.

Robert Frank, a CNBC reporter covering wealth, luxury, business, and financial news, examines the IRS’s steep drop in audit collections. He discusses sharp declines in audits targeting wealthy taxpayers and partnerships, plus how staffing cuts are reshaping tax enforcement.

Jessica Ettinger explores how changing jobs can lead to bigger paychecks, highlighting recent wage gains among workers who make the switch and the strongest impact on lower-paying roles. A quick look at career moves, compensation, and the financial choices shaping your next opportunity.

Consumer confidence plunges to a twelve-year low as inflation fears and rising gas prices weigh on public sentiment. Yet spending remains unexpectedly resilient, with major companies including McDonald’s, Costco, and General Mills feeling the pressure of persistent price concerns. A quick look at the disconnect between gloomy surveys and ongoing consumer activity.

Rising oil and diesel prices are reshaping affordability concerns and shifting Senate forecasts ahead of the midterms. AI regulation, data-center construction, and the race to accelerate development are becoming major political flashpoints. Meanwhile, voter frustration and election uncertainty could bring greater market volatility and make investors more cautious.

Mortgage rates climb above 7.5%, reaching their highest level in three years. The discussion explores whether rates could rise further, why homebuying is becoming more difficult, and how today’s market adds hundreds of dollars to monthly payments on a typical $450,000 home. It also points listeners toward additional housing-market coverage and resources.

Your 60-second money minute. Today's topic: Home Deals Are Out There Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.