Money in a minute for the week ending February 27

Every weekend I round up the week’s “news you can use” – a handful of quotes from major (and often expensive) financial news sources – so you can stay on top of the news that affects your money, without spending a cent and in less than a minute.

Here’s a look at what happened this week.

Wholesale inflation rose more than forecast in January (February 27, Barron’s)

The producer price index for total final demand rose 0.5% in January, an acceleration from December’s revised monthly increase of 0.4%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday morning. That translated into an annual rate of 2.9%, compared to the rate of 3% at the end of 2025.

The core PPI – which excludes prices for food, energy and trade services – rose 0.3% month-on-month in January, bringing the annual increase to 3.4%, the agency reported.

U.S. unemployment claims rose to 212,000 during the holiday week (February 26, Bloomberg)

Claims for U.S. unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week, indicating layoffs remain relatively low.

Initial claims rose by 4,000 to 212,000 in the week ended Feb. 21, according to Labor Department data released Thursday. The average forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists was 216,000.

Rates, 401(k)s, shouting: Key lessons from Trump’s speech (February 25, Bloomberg)

And in just over 1 hour and 47 minutes, the longest State of the Union in history, the president delivered a speech punctuated less by policy proposals than by political attacks.

Trump announces 401(k) plans with $1,000 match for workers whose employers don’t offer them (February 25, MarketWatch)

US consumer confidence is rising thanks to better job prospects (February 24, Bloomberg)

The Conference Board’s index rose to 91.2, compared with an upwardly revised 89 last month, data showed Tuesday. Notably, the latter figure was just one estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists.

“Comments about prices, inflation and the cost of goods remained at the top of consumers’ minds,” Dana Peterson, chief economist at the Conference Board, said in a statement. “Mentions about trade and politics also increased in February.”

More than 80% say affordability has not improved under Trump, according to an exclusive YouGov-MarketWatch poll (February 24, MarketWatch)

The president campaigned on assurances that he would solve affordability problems by 2024, and he can tout his record on these issues in Tuesday’s State of the Union address. Still, in a YouGov survey conducted exclusively for MarketWatch this month, nearly 47% of survey participants said affordability has deteriorated somewhat or significantly over the past year. Meanwhile, 36% say the price has stayed about the same, and almost 18% say affordability has improved.

Consumers said grocery prices, insurance, prescription drug prices, rent and saving to buy a home were the biggest affordability challenges. Of those who opted for insurance, auto insurance was the most common concern, followed by health insurance and homeowners or renters insurance.

Mortgage rates have fallen just below 6%, which corresponds to the lowest level since 2022 (February 23, CNBC)

The average interest rate on the popular 30-year mortgage fell to 5.99% on Monday. That corresponds to the lowest level since 2022.

Applications to refinance a home loan are up about 130% from a year ago.

Europe hits back at US ‘sheer tariff chaos’ and warns trade deals are in jeopardy (February 23, CNBC)

The president responded to the Supreme Court’s ruling by initially announcing a new 10% universal tax, using a different legal framework for the latest tariffs, but then increased the global rate to 15% — the legal maximum that can be in effect for 150 days before requiring congressional approval.

Officials in Europe and London expressed concern and dismay over the latest upheaval in global trade relations, saying Trump’s new tariff policy could upend trade deals struck last year with the US.