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- Salty Ginger Talk Newsletter
Inflation rate lower than expected in March
Our take: The cost of living and the rate of inflation were big issues in the last presidential election. President Trump rode a wave of discontent into the White House, vowing to make things more affordable. While some prices have actually gone down, there is still inflation overall. But the rate of that inflation has slowed, which Trump critics will not like to hear.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures price increases across the most commonly purchased goods in the U.S., showed a 2.4 percent rise in overall prices in the economy compared to the same time last year.
Economists had largely expected a rise of 2.6 percent, meaning inflation cooled quicker than expected.
The core inflation figures, which strip out volatile food and energy categories, rose 2.8 percent year over year, the lowest rise since March 2021.
It comes after prices slowed in February to 2.8 percent.
A more-than-expected drop in inflation would normally pave the way for the Federal Reserve to make interest rate cuts.
However, the turmoil brought about by Trump's chaotic tariff policies has largely not yet fed through to price data.
'The Fed is still going to worry about tariff-induced increases to inflation expectations, but slowing core inflation measures are a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for the Fed to consider rate cuts,' BI rates strategist Ira Jersey told Bloomberg.
It is important to note that while some prices fell, overall inflation is still above the Fed target rate of 2%. The tariff war that is currently smoldering has also created much uncertainty in world markets. All that to say, while lower inflation is good news for consumers, it is difficult to know what the next several months will hold with all the volatility that exists.
COURTESY: MSN
Walmart hangs signs asking employees to speak with managers before quitting
Our take: Walmart is one of the biggest employers in the US, operating more than 4,000 stores and employing over 1.6 million people. With that many people, if even 10% of your workforce is unhappy, that means you have 160,000 unhappy employees. A tough thing to manage, no doubt. That said, the perception people have of Walmart is that it’s not a great place to work. With a turnover rate of almost 70%, data seems to support that notion.
Walmart is trying to stem the tide of people leaving, as turnover is expensive, and it makes it difficult to keep stores running when you are consistently short-staffed and training new people. Walmart has taken to hanging signs in their stores asking people who are thinking about leaving to speak with their manager before they make any decisions.
The sign reads, “We believe in a no-quit philosophy at our store. Please come talk to me before making any decisions to leave.” In the comments, people shared the various reasons why one may quit at a Walmart store, from low wages to poor working environment.
One person said, “Are they going to offer a raise? No? See ya,” while another wrote: “Don’t quit, but don’t call in if there are 7 inches of snow, or call in on holidays, or you’ll be double penalized.”
Walmart, as one of the biggest employers in the US, also has one of the highest employee turnover rates in the country. According to a report by the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, that rate is at 70%.
Not a great look for the company, but the issue is real. Anyone running a business where the barriers of entry and pay rates are low (we started at the bottom of the grocery industry and had zero experience when we were hired, so we speak from experience here) knows it's difficult to retain people. That said, Walmart seems to struggle with retention more than similar businesses. It will be interesting to see if this tactic works and how they will respond if it does not.
COURTESY: MSN
Woman moves from Arizona to Panama, espouses the virtues
Our take: Many people in the US have considered moving to other countries. Some for better weather, some for a lower cost of living, and some for a change in culture. One woman made the leap and states she couldn’t be happier that she did it.
Before I retired, I worked as a licensed hypnotherapist and was also a minister at a spiritual center that my ex and I founded. After living in Cottonwood for years, a number of factors made me want to leave — not just the town but ultimately the US as well.
During COVID-19, many people from California started buying property in Sedona and renting it out short-term, which drove up prices and pushed out local workers. People who could no longer afford Sedona moved to Cottonwood, which then caused prices to rise there, too.
Affordability wasn't the main reason I wanted to leave the US. The increasingly toxic political environment also concerned me. On top of that, my husband and I got divorced after 30 years of marriage, my mom passed away, and the dog I had rescued died — all within three months of each other.
I just tapped out. I needed a fresh start, a sense of adventure — something that would let me reinvent myself.
Panama is also not that far from the US — about four hours from Houston — so it's easy to get back if needed.
The country offers some incredible financial benefits for retirees. The most important ones for me are the 25% discount on round-trip flights originating in Panama, 50% off entertainment, and 25% off healthcare. That's on top of its already incredibly low prices.
I took a scouting trip to Panama in July 2023, and just four months later, in November, I sold everything I owned and made the move.
Kudos to this woman for not saying, “I’m too old to change.” She decided she wanted something different, did a good amount of scouting and research, and has built a new and vibrant life for herself when many people would resign themselves to the life they. were living simply because of their age. There is a valuable lesson here—if you have the guts to pursue something you want, it’s never too late.
COURTESY: MSN
Tip of the day
Only you are responsible for your mistakes. Rather than blaming others, take full responsibility for your actions and avoid repeating again those mistakes.
Quote of the day
“Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another.” - Angela Duckworth