Why Do Stripe and Square Charge the Same Rate for Debit and Credit Cards?
September 21, 2026
A regulated debit card can generate only a few dimes of issuer interchange while Stripe or Square still charges the merchant several dollars on a
Category: Economics, Finance & Markets
Clear analysis of markets, money, incentives, trade, public finance, household economics, and the economic forces behind business and policy decisions.
Why Does an SBA Loan Require a Personal Guarantee if the SBA Already Guarantees It?
September 18, 2026
An SBA 7(a) loan can be 75% federally guaranteed while still requiring an unlimited personal guarantee from the owner. That is not a contradiction: the
Why Does Dental Insurance Stop Paying After $1,500?
September 18, 2026
A dental annual maximum limits what the plan pays, not what you pay. We trace why $1,000 to $1,500 limits became common, how inflation eroded
Are Truckers Going on Strike October 1, 2026? The Real Odds and What Could Happen Anyway
September 17, 2026
Claims of an October 1, 2026 trucker strike are spreading, but no nationwide shutdown has been verified. The bigger story is real: diesel has topped
Why Is Red Bull Gone From Kroger? What We Know About the Pricing Dispute
September 17, 2026
Red Bull has disappeared from Kroger stores and fuel centers nationwide. Kroger has not disclosed the contract dispute, but its own customer messaging and CEO’s
The U.S. Has Rare Earths. So Why Does It Still Depend on China for Magnets?
September 17, 2026
The United States has major rare-earth resources, a large mine at Mountain Pass and a growing domestic magnet industry. Yet China still dominates the stages
Why Is Pirate Ship Cheaper Than USPS? The Real Reason the Same Package Can Cost Less
September 17, 2026
Pirate Ship isn’t a mail carrier and it hasn’t found a USPS loophole. It is a shipping platform that can access USPS pricing ordinary counter
Are U.S. Supply Shortages Coming? What $6 Diesel, Canada Tariffs and the Saudi Pipeline Shutdown Actually Mean
September 16, 2026
Americans are being warned to stock up because of Canadian tariffs, $6 diesel, a Saudi pipeline shutdown, Yemen and an alleged trucker strike. Some of
Why Can’t You Take Your Low Mortgage Rate With You When You Move?
September 16, 2026
If you sell a house with a 3% mortgage, you normally lose that financing and borrow again at today’s rate. The reason is deeper than
Why Are Used-Car Loan Rates So Much Higher Than New-Car Rates?
September 13, 2026
Used-car loans carry much higher interest rates than new-car loans, even for borrowers in the same credit tier. The difference comes from more than credit