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Wall Street Journal
an hour ago
- Wall Street Journal
Private-Markets Giant Blue Owl Pushes Into 401(k)s
Wall Street firms that invest in private assets are angling for a bigger role in Americans' retirement accounts. Investment firm Blue Owl Capital OWL -3.52%decrease; red down pointing triangle is working with retirement-services provider Voya Financial VOYA -1.12%decrease; red down pointing triangle to develop products aimed at bringing private markets to 401(k)s and other defined-contribution plans, the companies said.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
7 Key Signs Hybrid Cars Aren't the Right Purchase for You
As the overall trajectory of the automotive market continues to lean toward electric vehicle (EV) companies, carmakers are trying to plug into the hybrid car market. Though they have sprung up around the world and traditional carmakers are retooling their lineups, EVs still face an uphill battle in a lot of ways. Learn More: For You: The pace at which EV sales are growing has fallen short of industry expectations. With electric specifically, Americans seem to remain cautious regarding their high prices, limited battery ranges and insufficient charging infrastructure. Hybrid cars offer numerous benefits to drivers — including reduced emissions, savings at the pump, savings on regular maintenance and through tax credits and incentives, unmatched fuel economy and resale value. Hybrids (but not plug-in hybrids [PHEVs]) are also becoming more reliable. Depending on an individual's needs, driving habits and priorities — including things like size, features and budget — hybrids might not be the right choice for everyone. Here are seven signs that a hybrid car might not be the best purchase for you. Generally speaking, hybrids tend to cost more than comparable gas-powered vehicles (but less than EVs). So, if you're on a tight budget or prioritize upfront affordability, a hybrid might not be the best choice for you. Although hybrid owners often justify the higher purchase cost of their vehicle by saying that they'll make that up eventually with fuel savings, this might take longer than buyers think. Many drivers who choose to buy eco-friendly and fully electric motor power want to lessen their impact on the environment. With a hybrid, you are still partially dependent on fossil fuels as it runs on both electricity and gas. Additionally, hybrids still have some environmental impact during the manufacturing process and vehicle battery pack disposal. Consider This: Although automakers are expanding performance capabilities and building quality designs throughout their lineups all the time, hybrids are manufactured to improve fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions. Because of this, they generally have slower top-end acceleration than traditional models. If power and handling are must-haves, you might be disappointed at your hybrid options. Hybrid cars have two sources of power (the gas engine and the electric motor), so there is less regular wear and tear on the car's engine — and typically fewer trips to the mechanic. However, as Kia noted on their website, when repairs are needed, it may be difficult to find an affordable mechanic who specializes in hybrid technology. Luckily, batteries can last more than 150,000 miles. But when they finally go, they are expensive to replace. Both hybrid and electric vehicles tend to thrive in stop-and-go city traffic, where their regenerative braking systems come into play. If your daily commute takes significant miles or is mainly spent on the highway, or if you're a strictly Sunday driver — popping out to the grocery store once a week or driving only short distances — paying more for a hybrid vehicle might not be worth your while. Don't worry. You can absolutely tow with your hybrid, but because fuel engines — which are necessary for towing and hauling — are frequently smaller in these models, towing capacity is lower. The Hyundai Ioniq and the Toyota Prius weren't exactly engineered to create the power needed to move your car, the people with you and a heavy load. In many cases, it costs more to insure a hybrid because they're worth more than traditional ICE vehicles. Due to specialized technology and higher damage claim and repair costs, you can expect to pay more on average — an estimated 7% to 11% more — to insure a hybrid vehicle or electric car as compared to its traditional gas-powered counterpart. David Nadelle contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates 3 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Summer 2025 8 Common Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Social Security Checks The 10 Most Reliable SUVs of 2025 This article originally appeared on 7 Key Signs Hybrid Cars Aren't the Right Purchase for You
Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Tariffs on Brazil could leave coffee drinkers with a headache
Getting a daily caffeine fix could become more expensive. President Donald Trump's plan to impose a 50% tariff on all imports from Brazil starting next month would drive up the price of coffee, whether it's served in cafes or brewed in the kitchen. Such a tariff would put more pressure on the coffee industry as prices have peaked globally this year. Droughts in Brazil and Vietnam, two of the biggest coffee exporters to the United States, have resulted in smaller harvests in recent seasons, driving up prices. Consumers are already paying more at the grocery store. At the end of May, the average price of 1 pound of ground roast coffee in the U.S. was $7.93, up from $5.99 at the same time last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Trump's pledge to place tariffs on imports from Brazil is partly in retaliation for what he considers a 'witch hunt' against his political ally, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing trial for attempting a coup. More than 99% of the coffee Americans consume is imported from South America, Africa and Asia. Last year, the United States imported 1.6 million metric tons of both unroasted and roasted coffee, according to the Agriculture Department. Brazil accounted last year for more than 8.1 million bags, each with 60 kilograms of coffee, that came into the United States. Any sudden shift would be a 'lose-lose situation,' said Guilherme Morya, a coffee analyst for Rabobank based in São Paulo. Brazilian suppliers, he said, are holding tight and waiting to see if any negotiations will save them from needing to find buyers in other countries. Should the new 50% tariffs take effect, 'we're going to see a reshape in the coffee flow in the world,' Morya said. 'Especially Brazil to other regions.' If wholesale costs -- what restaurant chains or grocery stores pay -- for coffee rise by 50%, that could translate to an increase of 25 cents a cup within three months, said Ryan Cummings, the chief of staff for the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. It would take about three months after the tariff goes into effect for consumers to see higher prices at stores, he said. Large coffee buyers, like Starbucks, source their coffee from all over the world, and often sign contracts months or years in advance for beans, somewhat insulating them from immediate price shocks. Still, some analysts said, there could be a scramble as some customers try to shift their supply chains to avoid the tariffs on coffee from Brazil. 'With Trump doing this Whac-a-Mole tariff strategy, it's going to cause you, as a coffee manufacturer, a lot of uncertainty,' Cummings said. But even changing suppliers comes with issues. Should manufacturers pivot more of their buying to Vietnam, another large coffee producer, they would be reliant on a smaller output. And in addition to a possible disruption in quantity, the quality of the coffee coming into the United States could change. Much of the coffee produced in Brazil is arabica, a higher quality than the more bitter robusta, mostly produced in Vietnam and the rest of Asia. Other suppliers would be unlikely to match Brazil's robust output, including Vietnam, which has seen a recent decline in its coffee production. The country would not be able, in the short- or medium term, 'to stem the flow,' said David Gantz, an economist at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. In Brazil, 'some of the exports will probably cease entirely,' Gantz added. 'Others will continue, but the consumer will end up paying a higher price.' Coffee must be grown under the right conditions. It grows best at higher altitudes, in places with tropical temperatures and heavy rainfall. In the United States and its territories, that's limited to Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The United States last year produced a small fraction of the coffee consumed by Americans -- 11,462 metric tons -- and nearly all of it in Hawaii. Hawaii's coffee is mostly a specialty product, and costs two or three times more than even high-quality imported beans. Labor costs are much higher in Hawaii, as are commodities like water and energy, so there is little chance the state can meaningfully produce more coffee for the American market, even if tariffs drive up the costs of its competitors. 'We can't grow enough coffee,' said Shawn Steiman, the owner of Coffea Consulting in Honolulu. 'The Hawaiian coffee market isn't tied to the global industry.' Some consumers -- especially those who view coffee not as a luxury but a daily necessity -- may just pay a higher price, while others may trade down to cheaper coffee products or to other caffeine products like tea or energy drinks. Consumers do notice when the price of coffee drinks rises. Starbucks recently began charging a flat fee of 80 cents if customers added one or more pumps of flavored syrups to their beverages. Starbucks played down the change, saying it was done simply to standardize pricing across its stores and on its app. 'They sure did raise prices,' said Brandon Taylor, a video producer in Orlando, Florida, who was unhappy when his regular order of a tall iced coffee with cream and caramel syrup jumped to $5.35 because of the new 80-cent charge for the syrup. He canceled his order. 'I don't plan on going back.' The tariffs could also threaten another morning staple. About 90% of the fresh orange juice and 55% of the frozen orange juice that the United States imports comes from Brazil, according to Agriculture Department data. Brazil also exports large quantities of concentrated orange pulp, what is then turned into orange juice. And Florida, a major domestic producer of the fruit, has faced recent growing difficulties partly because of a citrus disease. 'There would be a huge impact on people who drink orange juice because Florida can't possibly make up the slack,' Gantz said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Copyright 2025
