Diamonds are forever. Their market value, on the other hand, isn't set in stone. Thanks in part to the growing popularity of lab-produced diamonds, the cost of natural, rough cut diamonds was down to $850 per carat in July from $1,400 in June of last year. Read on for the top news nuggets of the week and a few gems of financial insight.

Ready or not: Pumpkin-spice-everything is back. U.S. retail sales of pumpkin-flavored products bibbidi-bobbidi-boomed to $803 million for the 52-week period through July 2023 – up nearly 15% from the prior year. 

There’s only a few more weeks of summer left, so make sure to squeeze in a quick flight or last-minute road trip while you still can. For those with a zest for the finer things, we’re peeling back the latest luxe headlines for a closer look. 

In an era of hyper-digitalization, there's a palpable sense of security in what’s real. Tactile. Owned and earned. At least, that’s what the 28% of Americans who told us they “feel safer” keeping money in cash seem to think.

Nostalgia is a powerful force – for example, remember when Amazon just sold books? The U.S. grocery market is estimated to be $1.5 trillion and Amazon is reaching for a bigger piece of the pie.

Pencils down: Q2 results are in from approximately half of the S&P 500 – and nearly 80% of companies have reported earnings above analyst forecasts, according to FactSet. Another quarter is in the books, and it’s officially earnings szn.  

“If someone has a crystal ball … DM me on Twitter.” No, Elon Musk wasn’t talking about the future of the famous bird logo, now rebranded to “X.” He was commenting on the economy.

Life’s expensive. From back-to-school costs to long-term healthcare payments, everyday obligations can put the heat on your savings plans and goals. Let's discuss why your long-term dreams don’t need to shift to the back burner.

If reminders that we’re halfway through the year make it seem that the race is on to achieve all those 2023 intentions you may have forgotten, this is your sign to pull over, refuel, and take a look at the milestones you’ve already reached.  

Oh, say can you see … the savings? While the Fourth of July may be in the rearview mirror, we’re not done celebrating everyone’s right to achieve financial freedom from sea to shining sea.  

Restaurant inflation is changing our appetites. People are hungry for relief (or a reliable bang for their buck), so an American staple has returned to the food scene...

Sometimes, we just need a break – on inflation, rate hikes, and hidden fees – to rest our gaze on ... swarming bees?