Capital WealthInflation Stayed Sturdy, the Fed Moved Closer to a Hike, and Brunch Is Over.
- The week finished down even after Friday’s bounce — the S&P 500 off 0.80% to 7,656.98, the Dow off 1.57% and small companies off 2.41% — though Friday itself rose 0.86% on a hot inflation report.
- Bonds and oil kept their week. The 10-year Treasury finished Friday at 4.975%, its highest since 2023, and crude rose about 9% on the week to roughly $100 a barrel.
- Inflation-proofing made the money pages. Jason Zweig’s Intelligent Investor makes the case for a ladder of Treasury inflation-protected securities, with real yields on some recently topping 3%.
- Off Duty declared brunch over and road-tested a 1,139-horsepower electric Porsche Cayenne that starts at $163,000 — and came to $198,180 as tested.
- Nothing new was bought. Friday’s core print ran a tenth hot and a rate increase became the market’s base case for the Sept. 15–16 meeting, so the September letter’s conditions for new money weren’t met.
August’s Core Inflation Ran Hot and Pulled the Fed Toward a Hike. Would One Be Enough?
Headline inflation held at 3.4% over the year, but core prices rose 0.3% in August — faster than forecasters expected — and interest-rate futures moved the odds of a quarter-point hike next week to about 85%, from 70%. Inside the Fed, the harder argument is about what comes after.
Nobody knows yet whether one increase becomes three, so plan for both: cash where a hike helps, borrowing budgeted without cuts. Action: nothing new bought — the September letter’s conditions went unmet, and the safe money stays short.
Brunch Had a Good Century. Now It’s Lunch’s Turn.
Diners are swapping boozy brunch for weekend lunch; U.S. lunch traffic fell 10% in Jan.–May 2026 vs. 2023.
Our TakeA set-price lunch shows most of the bill up front; giving dining out its own budget line keeps a pleasant habit from turning pricey.
A 1,139-hp Porsche SUV, and Why the Cheaper Trim Wins
The 2026 Cayenne Turbo Electric makes up to 1,139 hp, starts at $163,000 and came to $198,180 as tested.
Our TakeA car is the most enjoyable depreciating asset most people buy, so set the all-in price first and pay from money already set aside for it.
Seven trees on one mirror: the rideshare scent war
Uber and Lyft riders are pushing back on cars crammed with air fresheners; one rider counted seven trees.
Our TakeSide hustles live on small details: track the little costs, because the customer decides what’s too much and whether to ride again.
College kickers compared paychecks. Then they got raises.
Sharing pay details helped lift average Power Four starting specialist pay to $225,000, up 60.9% this season.
Our TakeMoney that arrives fast on a short career needs a plan first: learn the taxes, build a cash cushion, then save a set share of every check.
Taipei’s Temples Are Nearly All Free. The Trip Isn’t.
Entry is free at virtually all of Taiwan’s temples, and guided Taipei temple walks cost about $15 to $20 a person.
Our TakeGive the big trip its own line in the retirement budget: plan it, price it and insure it before booking, so it doesn’t have to wait on the market.
Six Fall Movies Worth Leaving the Couch For
The Journal previewed 16 fall films opening Sept. 18 to Nov. 25, from a new Aaron Sorkin drama to Tom Cruise as an oil baron.
Our TakeKeep movie night in the budget, and hunt down the subscriptions that renew whether anyone watches or not.
Wearing 3,000-Year-Old Gold Comes With Hard Questions
Artifact jewelry built from real archaeological finds splits jewelers and archaeologists; one necklace lists at $43,000.
Our TakeAnything that precious deserves receipts, appraisals and photos on file, plus a check on whether a scheduled-items rider belongs on your policy.
Stainless Is the New Sterling. Buy It for the Long Haul.
Stainless home goods are hot with young shoppers, even with prices up as much as 45% since April 2025 steel tariffs.
Our TakeJudge a pricey piece by cost per use, not scarcity: a durable steel table can beat a cheaper one you end up buying twice.
Crispy Zucchini Fries for Hosts Who Fear the Fryer
A New York chef’s zucchini fritte gets its crunch from egg whites, rice flour and about an inch of oil.
Our TakeHosting well is more about one memorable dish than a big spread; a set budget per gathering keeps generosity from turning into overspending.
Oreo-Gate Hit a Nerve. Ask Who Profits From the Drama
A viral mom-chat saga about Oreos drew over 60 million views, and its creator has a paid partnership with AI music app Suno.
Our TakeWhen a relatable drama comes with a paid deal attached, ask who benefits, and give any hot investment tip the same scrutiny.
New Coke Flopped. Coke, and Brian Dyson, Came Back
Brian Dyson, who championed New Coke in 1985, died Aug. 9 at 90; after Classic returned, Coke sales and the stock surged.
Our TakeA famous mistake isn’t the end of the story for a company or a career, and a scary headline alone is a poor reason to sell.
Inflation Overstayed. Zweig’s Answer Is a TIPS Ladder
Real yields on some TIPS recently topped 3%, and Jason Zweig makes the case for laddering them in or near retirement.
Our TakeGive every safe dollar a due date: Treasury bills for near-term needs, and longer inflation protection only after weighing duration and taxes.
Ask Early, Don’t Bluff, Don’t Quit: New Rules at Work
The Journal’s work guide says start raise talks six months to a year ahead, and never quit before landing another job.
Our TakeFor many people in their 50s and 60s, earning power is the biggest asset; an emergency fund is the insurance that buys time if work wobbles.
The Talk Was Work. The Hosts Thought It Was Free
Sarah Tucker’s 1,000-pound invoice for a talk on AI revealed hosts who had viewed the event as unpaid networking.
Our TakeAnyone consulting or speaking in semi-retirement should settle the fee before the work and price their time like the asset it is.
Readers on the American Dream: Own Slowly, Skip the Boat
Readers answered an excerpt on unglamorous fortunes with letters on leverage, housing costs, inheritance and health insurance.
Our TakeWealth usually builds slowly; before leaving a salaried job to go independent, put the health coverage and other benefits you’d lose into the math.
A Hot New Name Can Cost You. Read Past the Label
Companies renamed outside a deal lagged peers by more than 5 points, and money-losing ones trailed by more than 13.
Our TakeTreat a rebrand as a reason to open the financials: profits and losses tell you more than any buzzword in a company’s new name.
The $1,999 Folding iPhone: Tempting, Heavy, Pricey
Apple’s iPhone Duo nearly hides its crease, but it weighs 254 grams and costs $800 more than an iPhone 18 Pro.
Our TakeA premium gadget is a want: wait for full reviews, ask what it replaces and pay from money set aside rather than a monthly plan.
Accused of taking $40M in gold, a CIA officer nears a deal
Prosecutors say a CIA official accused of walking out with $40 million in gold bars has a tentative plea deal.
Our TakeGold belongs in a plan with custody, insurance and records; a fund share shows up on a statement, while closet bars need a safe and an inventory.
The AI freakout went mainstream. Experts aren’t sold.
A departing Anthropic researcher’s warning spread AI dread nationwide; views of Wikipedia’s AI-risk page rose over tenfold.
Our TakeThe planning version of AI anxiety: gauge how much of your paycheck the technology could touch, and don’t let a scary week pick your investments.
Anthropic’s possible record IPO: a case for patience
Anthropic’s IPO could raise up to $100 billion at a roughly $2 trillion value, but its filing isn’t public yet.
Our TakeA record-size listing is a reason to wait for the public filing, and to know what your index funds own before adding a single new stock.
AI’s math breakthrough: separate promise from price
A swarm of up to 10,000 AI agents cracked a Millennium Prize Problem in 88 hours as AI researchers warned of risk.
Our TakeA breakthrough and a stock price are separate questions; judge the business and what you’re paying before adding to any AI theme.
Bending Spoons’ Numbers Need a Second Look
Bending Spoons reported a 2025 net loss under $1 million but adjusted net income of about $402 million.
Our TakeBefore buying a hot new stock, compare reported and adjusted profit, check customer retention and look hard at the debt load.
Kalshi’s 24/7 stock bets: owning isn’t wagering
Kalshi plans to seek approval for leveraged, never-expiring perpetual futures tied to single stocks like Tesla and Apple.
Our TakeA share is a piece of a business you can hold through bad stretches; a leveraged perp is a price bet that may not let you wait.
What Xbox’s bad-news boss tells Microsoft owners
Xbox chief Asha Sharma keeps repeating hard numbers: about $23 billion in declining revenue and a 3% profit margin.
Our TakeLeaders who name problems plainly give owners a yardstick; candor earns patience, but the fix still has to show up in results.