Ludewig Financial Group

09/28/2026

🏛️ The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate this week for the first time in three years, lifting the federal funds rate a quarter point to a range of 3.75% to 4%. Most officials expect at least one more increase before the year's end.

A few things are driving the move:
▪️Energy prices have climbed amid global tensions
▪️Spending tied to AI infrastructure has surged
▪️Together, they've pushed inflation above the Fed's 2% goal

The effects reach different corners of your budget in different ways:
▪️Credit cards and auto loans tend to reprice quickly
▪️Mortgage rates track longer-term Treasury yields, which have also climbed, pushing the 30-year average to nearly 7%

💼 The labor market has held steady through it all, with unemployment at 4.1%.

This is exactly the kind of shift worth talking through together, especially anywhere it touches your own borrowing or spending decisions.


Source:

Most officials penciled in one more increase this year. An energy shock and a surge of AI investment have reshaped the inflation outlook.

09/21/2026

📦 Wholesale prices moved higher in August, with the Producer Price Index rising 0.4% for the month, right in line with expectations.

On an annual basis, headline PPI was up 5.4%, while core PPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2% for the month.

Energy was one of the biggest drivers. ⚡ Final demand energy prices increased 4.2%, while goods prices overall rose 1.1%. Services prices increased just 0.1%.

The latest report adds another piece to the inflation picture as the Federal Reserve weighs its next interest-rate decision.

For consumers and businesses alike, wholesale price trends are worth watching because they may eventually show up in the cost of everyday goods and services.


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The producer price index was expected to rise 0.4% in August, according to the Dow Jones consensus forecast.

09/17/2026

The Fed raised raised rates by 0.25% yesterday. What are the chances they'll raise them again this year?

09/14/2026

🚨 Scammers are getting more sophisticated, and the financial toll is growing.

Americans reported a record $15.9 billion in scam losses last year, up 25% from the year before. And the real number may be much higher, since many victims never report what happened.

⚠️ The problem is also widespread: 98% of Americans surveyed said they believe scammers have targeted them, and 3 in 10 said they’ve personally lost money or information.

Recovering stolen funds can be difficult, especially when someone is tricked into authorizing a payment. Victims may also be targeted again by criminals claiming they can recover the original loss for a fee.

🔐 If someone contacts you unexpectedly about money, an investment, or recovering funds you’ve already lost, slow down before sending anything. Verify who you’re dealing with through a trusted source, and be especially cautious if there’s pressure to act quickly.


Source:

Virtually every American has been targeted by scammers in some way, exclusive new polling data shows.

09/11/2026

Never Forget 🇺🇸

Make sure to stop at the Owatonna Degner Regional Airport to see the beautiful Field of Honor where 1,000 flags are flying. Thank you to all the Exchange Clubs in Owatonna and Medford for the wonderful display.

09/09/2026

🏦 Bond yields may sound like something only investors need to watch, but they can also show up in everyday financial decisions.

The 10-year Treasury yield recently climbed to 4.78%, its highest level since January 2025. That matters because movements in Treasury yields can influence borrowing costs across the economy.

🏠 Higher yields may contribute to higher rates on mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, and personal loans. They can also have an upside for savers, since rates on high-yield savings accounts and CDs may rise as well.

So when Treasury yields move, the effects can reach well beyond the bond market.

If you’re borrowing or keeping money in interest-bearing accounts, it may be worth paying attention to where rates are heading and how they’re affecting the options available to you.


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The U.S. bond market influences how much American consumers pay for loans and the interest they can earn on their savings accounts.

09/04/2026

For many Gen Xers, retirement is starting to feel less like a distant milestone and more like a looming financial reality.

The oldest members of the generation will turn 62 next year, the earliest age to claim Social Security. At the same time, many are approaching retirement with limited savings and fewer pensions than previous generations had.

The median Gen X retirement savings balance is about $107,000, while members of the generation estimate they’ll need roughly $700,000 for retirement. Social Security may also become an increasingly important source of income, with 41% of workers over 55 saying they expect it to be their primary source in retirement.

That gap is prompting some Gen Xers to rethink when they’ll stop working, how much they may need to save, and what retirement could realistically look like.

If retirement is getting closer, this may be a good time to review your savings, expected Social Security benefits, and other sources of retirement income.


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Millions of Generation X Americans expect to depend on Social Security as their main — or only — source of retirement income.

08/28/2026

A gas station convenience store may not sound like an obvious place for a weekend destination.

But in Lakeville, Minnesota, The Farmer’s Cellar has turned an empty storefront next to a gas station into an upscale restaurant and hidden speakeasy.

The business, which includes the speakeasy, convenience store, and gas station, brought in almost $5 million in revenue during its first year. The speakeasy alone generated just over $1.7 million from its opening in May 2025 through April.

The concept stands out at a time when restaurant costs remain elevated, and many consumers are treating dining out as more of a special occasion.

For small businesses, the story highlights the value of location, creativity, and customer experience, even in unexpected places.


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Tony Donatell turned an empty storefront next to a gas station into a sophisticated speakeasy, The Farmer's Cellar. Inside, it's still the "roaring twenties."

08/25/2026

Politics can creep into thinking. Take inflation. Republicans, as a group, expect prices to rise 2.4 percent over the next 12 months. Democrats expect 4.7 percent. That's a big gap for two groups looking at the exact same economy.

08/21/2026

Early estimates for the 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment have moved lower as inflation moderates.

New projections suggest the 2027 COLA may fall between 3.4% and 3.6%.

The official adjustment has not been announced yet. The final number will depend on inflation data for July, August, and September.

Social Security COLAs are calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, known as CPI-W.

July data showed CPI-W rose 3.4% over the past 12 months. The broader consumer price index also rose 3.4% year over year.

One estimate from AARP suggests a 3.5% COLA would raise the average retired worker’s benefit by about $73 per month.

For retirees and near-retirees, the COLA is an important reminder that inflation can affect income, purchasing power, household expenses, and long-term financial decisions.


Source:

New estimates show just how much Social Security benefits may increase in 2027, based on new government inflation data.