Business
Florida cities sweep top 3 places for retirees in 2026
In WalletHub’s annual Best Places to Retire Report, the Sunshine State is still top of mind as a place to retire.
The survey conducted by the platform for budgeting tools in 2026 showed that Florida cities dominated the top 3. Orlando was ranked first, then Miami, and finally Tampa, after 45 factors were taken into consideration, including the cost of life, tax laws, the accessibility of activities, and quality of healthcare. WalletHub analyzed 45 metrics to compare the retirement-friendliness in more than 180 U.S. towns.
WalletHub stated that retirees who are on a fixed-income still have to deal with high inflation. It’s therefore important for Americans to find a place where they will be able enjoy their golden age and can relax.
Chip Lupo is WalletHub’s analyst. “The best cities to retire in are the ones that have low taxes, expenses and offer opportunities to work part-time for an extra income if you choose,” he said. The top cities also offer high-quality healthcare and a wide range of fun activities to retirees.
Why are Florida cities so popular with retirees
According to WalletHub, low taxes are a key factor in the top three rated cities of Orlando, Miami, and Tampa. Florida does not have an estate tax or income tax.
WalletHub says that these cities are not just tax-friendly.
Orlando’s costs of living aren’t low but it is the second best city in the country for recreational activities, as there are many music venues, art galleries, and fishing opportunities, and a lot of adult volunteer work. The city is also ranked 21st in gerontologists, and 8th for the number of home health care services per capita. WalletHub reported that it has the 4th-best hospital for geriatrics. This allows elderly residents to get quality care.
Miami is the most active city in the nation when it comes adult volunteering, fishing, art galleries, recreation centers and senior centres per capita. It also has the 11th largest number of museums, the 17th biggest amount of parks and the 17th highest percentage. The report also said that Miami is the 6th most walkable city and the majority of residents are within walking distance of quality public transport.
Tampa is a safe city, with WalletHub ranking it as the 19th lowest property crime rate of all cities. There are many activities, and it ranks fifth in recreation across the country. It is especially attractive for bingo players. The city has nine bingo halls for every 1,000 residents. WalletHub reported that Tampa also has the eleventh highest rate of volunteerism among adults, which gives retirees many opportunities to remain active, social, and involved in their community.
If I do not want to move to Florida, what can I do?
Florida is not the only state that retirees may consider. Since 2016, when WalletHub launched their top states for retirees survey, Florida has topped the list every year except two.
Florida will fall to the second place in 2023 behind Virginia, due partly to its high healthcare costs. Wyoming surpassed Florida this year to take the No. 1 spot. Partly because Florida’s cost of living is higher.
Scottsdale, Arizona and Casper in Wyoming are the fourth and fifth cities on this list.
Scottsdale was rated lower for affordability, but ranked first in quality of living. Casper, however, was ranked 3rd overall in terms of affordability. This gave the city a big boost.
What are the worst places to retire in?
WalletHub reported that four of the five worst cities for retirement are located in California.
The bottom row is:
Stockton in California: Last in terms of activities, and third in affordability, quality and healthcare.
San Bernardino (California): Ranked as 171 out of 182 in health care.
Newark, New Jersey: Ranked 168th in terms of quality of living but ranked 86th out of 182 for the number of activities.
Fresno (California): A lack of activity has weighed down the city with a ranking of 176 out of 182.
Rancho Cucamonga in California ranked 171 for activities and 163 on affordability.
When deciding where to retire, what should you consider?
Experts say that activities are as important as finances when deciding where to retire.
Phyllis Moen is a professor emeritus of Cornell University and the University of Minnesota. She said that planning should take into account lifestyle issues as well as finances. People are living longer and should consider how to use these extra years. This could include taking on a second, part-time job that involves paid or unpaid work.
They said that politics is also important because Social Security and Medicare, as well as Medicaid, are at risk.
Joanna Lahey is a professor at Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government and Public Service. She said, “Pay attention because in the next few years, the future will be crucial for Social Security and Medicare. Older people may lose the benefits they have earned their whole lives.” Medicaid has also been reduced, which offers services that older people may not even be aware they are entitled to. In the future, it will be crucial to continue supporting state and local programs for older adults.
Business
Goldman Sachs Warns Oil Could Hit $120 as Shipping Risks Rise
Goldman Sachs says that oil prices may surge up to $120 per barrel if the attacks against shipping in Middle East increase.
Bloomberg TV interviewed Daan Struyven on Monday, the co-head for global commodities at Goldman Sachs.
The price of oil has risen in recent weeks due to renewed hostilities. It soared early Monday morning in Asian trades, reaching its highest level since July.
This weekend, the situation escalated after the U.S. announced that it had hit three Iranian oil tanks in response to the IRGC’s use of ballistic missiles against two U.S. Warships.
After the attack, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf declared that “proportionate response” was over and that Iran’s future retaliations will be “faster and heavier.”
Iran said that it will announce in the next few days a “new exclusion zone”, which “will start from the U.S. Naval Blockade line, extend towards the Strait of Hormuz and continue from this side into the Persian Gulf.”
Mohsenrezaei said that any ship found to be entering this area in order to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and which is identified, will appear on the sanctions list.
Brent Crude was trading at more than $97 a barrel early on Monday. The U.S. benchmark WTI Crude was also above $92 per barrel.
Struyven, a Goldman analyst who spoke to Bloomberg, said that Goldman believes “significant upside in crude oil prices” but also added that investors would bet more on the rising prices of natural gas and refined products.
Experts say that in gas and fuel markets, the supply shocks were greater than on the crude oil market.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
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Business
Labor Day sales are live: Shop expert-approved deals from Amazon, Apple, Hoka, Patagonia and more up to 75% off
Labor Day is the unofficial ending of summer. Whether you are sad to say goodbye or excited for autumn, everyone can agree that finding great deals will make any season more enjoyable. We can help. We have a team of experts who spend hours scouring retailer sales so that you know what to buy now, and what is better to hold off on. We’ve found markdowns up to 75% this Labor Day on homewares, clothing staples, tech gear, and much more from Apple, Kate Spade and Patagonia. We’ve put together a list of all the Labor Day deals you shouldn’t miss.
Labor Day Deals: The Best Labor Day Offers
Hanes Men’s Hoodie (originally $27): A Rare 70% Discount
Patagonia Men’s Nano Puff jacket ($160, originally $229): rare sale on a editor’s pick
Apple AirTag 4 Pack ($80, originally $99): lowest price ever seen
Ninja Flip Toaster Oven & Air Fry ($150, Was $250): Get $100 off
Dyson V8 Cyclone cordless vacuum cleaner ($300 instead of $400): rare deal
New Labor Day deals
Neutrogena Dry Touch Sunscreen 70 SPF 50 ($5, used to be $13): lowest price in months
Bose QuietComfort headphones ($199, originally $349): rare 45% discount
Levi’s Women’s Ribcage straight Jeans (45 dollars, originally $85): Lowest price for 30 days
How to pick up the best Labor Day deals
We only highlight markdowns that we think will save you real money. Some sales are not good; prices may be inflate to appear larger, or some products will cost less elsewhere. What we would skip on Labor Day
Apple iPhone: Wait — there will be a new iPhone model soon. Prices on the existing model typically drop when it launches.
Black Friday is the best time to buy video games and high-ticket technology.
Winter clothing: The new season collection is now in stores, but wait until November to get the biggest discounts on winter staples such as coats and booties.
Best Labor Day deals: Top picks
Best Labor Day deals: Rare deals
Best Labor Day deals: Style
Our style expert says that retailers are clearing summer stock to make way for the fall and winter. So, you can expect steep discounts over Labor Day on items like sundresses and sandals. I recommend shopping for the current season. Stock up now on lighter (and cheaper) clothes, and then grab the discounted styles of fall when the next round of sales comes around in October. Browse more style deals here.
Best Labor Day deals: Home
Our home expert says that now is the time to buy the outdoor furniture you have been wanting. Keep an eye on deals for pillows and mattresses. Mattress prices are usually at their lowest around Presidents’ Day. However, you may still be able to find some great discounts during this period. If you’re looking for new bedding and towels that are luxurious, I recommend waiting until the “white sales” in January. These items usually have even greater discounts. Click here to see more deals on home products.
Best Labor Day deals: Kitchen
Our kitchen expert says that as the seasons change, deals on kitchen equipment start to appear. Many of these products are useful all year round. Air fryers and cookware are great for summer, but also useful as we move into the fall. Black Friday is when you’ll see the biggest price cuts on larger appliances like refrigerators and ranges. If you can wait until November, then it might be worth buying one. Browse more kitchen deals here.
Best Labor Day deals: Tech
Our tech expert says that if you have been waiting to upgrade your tablet or laptop, it may now be time. The AI industry is creating a huge demand for components and memory chips, so the low prices we experienced in late 2017 and early 2018 are not returning. What’s the exception? Amazon devices. Prime Day is coming up, so I would wait to buy Kindles or Echo devices until they are heavily discounted. Find more deals on tech here.
Live4 Updates
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Business
$40 trillion U.S. national debt just got uglier as interest payments rise to $1.25 trillion a year
Doubleline, an investment management company, noted in a recent report that by 2025 the net federal interest payments on the U.S. national debt, now at $40 trillion, will surpass the previous record of 18.4%. The U.S. collects nearly 19% (or $1.25 trillion) of its total tax and revenue to pay interest, which is equivalent to the 2026 Defense Budget.
Increasing interest payments can create a vicious cycle. The government has to borrow more money to pay the interest and is then less able to invest in infrastructure, education or other areas that promote growth.
According to the Kobeissi letter, a global market commentary, interest expenses as a percent of revenues have tripled since 2015. The Congressional Budget Office predicts that interest expense will reach 25% in 2036.
The Kobeissi Letter posted on social media that “the US debt crisis has never been seen before.” These projections are based on the assumption that there will be no recession or major slowdown in this time period.
How the interest rate on debt today is different than in 1991
In 1991, when the U.S. was still recovering from recession and the oil shocks of the Gulf War, it had a booming economy. At the time, the high demand for Treasuries pushed the yields to 8%. This was down from over 10% during previous decades.
Doubleline said that the situation is very different today. Doubleline argued that the government was able to handle an interest rate of 8% when debts were smaller. But this is not true today. The public debt in 1991 was 44% of U.S. Gross Domestic Product. Today, it is more than 100%. The government still has to spend more because of the lower interest rate, even though the debt is so large.
Analysts wrote: “The federal interest burden is at a new record, but the yield on long bonds has not reached that record.” The yield may seem normal by historical standards but not the government’s reaction to it.
In order to complicate matters, hyperscalers and major tech firms are now turning towards debt markets. AI companies will issue $225 billion of bonds during the first half 2026. This capital spending may worsen national debt, as many of the investments are tax-deductible. It also bucked a trend where private companies borrow less when governments were borrowing more. Tech giants are flocking to bonds with a 10-to-30 year term to raise the long-term funds needed to build out AI. This is straining the U.S. economy and forcing the government to offer higher interest rates to maintain demand.
Ed Yardeni, a Wall Street veteran and economist who has been in the business for over 30 years, wrote a note recently that said: “Capital is not flowing to Treasuries because it’s going into corporate bonds. Treasury yields had to go up to clean out the market.” The AI revolution has a crowding out effect that is causing Treasury yields rise.
Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury secretary, doubled Treasury buybacks for 10-to-30 year bonds from $2 billion up to $4 billion. This move surprised investors, and was a rare example of direct involvement by the Treasury chief. Doubleline analysts said the strategy blurred between managing cash and controlling markets. It also showed how crucial a time it is for the U.S. to manage interest rates on its debt.
Analysts said that “Net interest expenses have already reached a new record as a share of revenues, and the Treasury is continuing to finance large budget deficits on a market where private capital demand is high.” The level of long bonds is therefore more important than what the comparison with historical data suggests.
Business
Feds detail plans for investigating cargo plane crash in Miami
MIAMI (AP) — Federal investigators on Monday are detailing their plans for determining what caused an Amazon cargo jet to barrel off a runway at Miami International Airport, killing at least five people and injuring five others as it struck vehicles and was engulfed in flames.
The aircraft overran the runway around 2 p.m. Sunday after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and plowed across a road used by warehouse workers and other businesses that surround the airport. Five people were killed, three critically injured and two others hospitalized with less severe injuries, officials said.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the pilots survived or those killed were all in vehicles when the plane struck.
The crash, which sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky, trapped the pilot and copilot in the cockpit and some occupants in cars, said Miami-Dade Rescue Fire Chief Ray Jadallah. The agency said crews also had to extricate a person who was trapped under a vehicle.
The National Transportation Safety Board said Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy would hold a news conference Monday.
Among the factors investigators are likely to consider is whether the plane flew too far before touching down, experts said. Typically, the landing zone is within the first 3,000 feet (914 meters) of a runway.
Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said if it was beyond that area, the plane should have aborted the landing and gone around for another attempt.
Mary Schiavo, who is a pilot and former Inspector General of the Transportation Department, said video posted online shows the Amazon plane floating above the runway for an extended period without flaring the nose upward to force the main landing gear onto the ground.
It wasn’t raining at the time, but dark storm clouds loomed and strong winds were reported. Schiavo said that if the plane had a tail wind, that could have contributed to it floating further down the runway.
“A tail wind would certainly add to your troubles if you’ve already given up a good chunk of the runway by not touching down and landing right away,” Schiavo said.
The Miami airport is not equipped with arresting systems that the FAA says have been installed at more than 120 airports nationwide to safely stop planes that do go past the end of a runway. Those beds of lightweight, crushable material at the end of a runway have been credited by the FAA with helping save at least 497 lives aboard planes that overran runways.
The crash halted flights at the busy travel hub for much of the afternoon. Some 200 emergency personnel responded, finding the plane with heavy flames and smoke from a complex engine compartment fire, the department said. Firefighters used foam from specialized airport firefighting units to extinguish the fire, and crews were still dealing with a fuel leak on the plane hours later.
The Prime Air plane came to rest beside a roadway near two semitrucks, images showed. The aircraft appeared to be resting on its belly and was largely intact despite the fire.
The flight had been operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier based in North Carolina. The 32-year-old Boeing 767 was originally built to carry passengers and flew for several airlines for more than two decades before being converted to a cargo plane in 2015, according to flight-tracking site Flightradar24.
Schiavo said the NTSB will also closely examine the maintenance history of this plane — particularly since it has a history of foreign ownership in the past, including by a Russian company.
More than 160 flights were canceled and nearly 325 delayed by late Sunday, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flight disruptions. Officials from Orlando International Airport, more than 200 miles (320 km) north of Miami, said some flights were diverted there.
Amazon said in a statement that it would cooperate with any investigation.
“We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport,” the company said. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.”
Last year, a UPS plane crashed after losing its engine while accelerating down the runway at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport. The crash killed all three pilots and 12 people on the ground. Twenty-three more were injured.
___
Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writers Tim Reynolds in Miami, Rio Yamat in Las Vegas and Wufei Yu in Phoenix contributed.
Business
US fuel prices hit record high for Labor Day weekend
Filling up your tank to go on a last trip for the summer over Labor Day Weekend is more expensive than ever before in the U.S.
According to AAA, the average cost of gas for regular was $4.14 per gallon before the Labor Day holiday. This is nearly $1 higher than the previous year, and more than double the Labor Day Weekend record price of $3.82 in 2012.
Nicole Collins was planning to travel from Philadelphia to South Carolina in order to see friends. However, she explained that her family had spent the majority of summer at home because it is so costly to drive.
Gas is expensive right now. Collins added, “It doesn’t matter that we have a child, we have to also pay for this.” Collins was speaking outside of a Claymont gas station, Delaware where the price per gallon is $4.199.
The prices have risen since the U.S., Israel and other countries attacked Iran on February 22nd. The flow of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for the transportation of crude oil to the world market, has plummeted. Iran refuses to open the Strait.
Tom Seng is a Texas Christian University professor of energy and finance. He said, “Everything pointed to the Iran War” and the Strait of Hormuz.
The Energy Secretary Chris Wright gave few details on the date when drivers could expect to see a reduction in gas prices, but acknowledged that the price is higher than Labor Day 2025.
Wright stated on ABC’s This Week that “yes, the prices are higher, but we will do everything to bring them back down.”
Gas prices are still below the national average of $5.02 per gallon, set by June 2022.
Diesel is another story. It reached a new record Friday of $5.85 per gallon, the national average.
Diesel is used by trucks and other systems for freight delivery. This increased cost of transportation, which can be passed onto consumers at grocery stores or package delivery services, increases the price.
Collins stated that “it doesn’t seem as if there is an end” to the situation.
As the driving season in summer ends, gas prices tend to drop. Refineries then switch over to a winter blend that is cheaper.
Seng added that there were other factors, even outside the unstable situation in the Middle East this year, which make the future price of oil unpredictable. U.S. refining plants are operating at 98% of their capacity. Many in Texas’s unusually hot heat. Prices will be hard to lower if there are any problems or hurricanes knock some systems off line.
It’s not just an issue in the Middle East. Diesel supplies are being squeezed by Ukrainian drone attacks against Russian refineries. Matthew Metzgar is a clinical economist at UNC Charlotte and he said that Chinese refiners also see a decline in output.
Metzgar stated that “there is just less fuel coming out of these refineries.”
Wright, energy secretary Wright, stated that Trump administration is taking steps to increase the production, and the markets are forecasting lower prices for the next few months.
If you take a look at futures, you’ll see that if you buy gasoline in bulk today for November two months in advance, the price is $0.35 less than today. The marketplace believes that gasoline prices will be significantly lower in the future,” said he.
There is not much a motorist can do geopolitically to bring down the price of gas.
Metzgar says that price apps are a good way to save money on trips, particularly long ones. Gas prices along the Interstate could be up to 10 cents per gallon higher than in stations just a few miles away.
___
Mingson Lau, a videojournalist with Associated Press and Gary Fields, a reporter for the Associated Press contributed.
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