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Average rate on a 30-year mortgage drops to lowest level since April

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage has fallen to its lowest level in four months, welcome news for prospective homebuyers who have been held back by stubbornly high home financing costs. The long-term rate fell to 6.63% from 6.72% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.47%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also fell. The average rate dropped to 5.75% from 5.85% last week. A year ago, it was 5.63%, Freddie Mac said. Elevated mortgage rates have helped keep the ...

‘The Money Compass’ podcast tackles financial literacy and health insurance

UNIVERSITY PARK — A new Penn State Extension podcast is aimed at helping adults of all ages navigate critical financial literacy and health insurance topics essential for managing money and simplifying health coverage. Hosted by Christina Pulman, food, families and communities extension educator, and Brady Ward, finance and accounting major at Penn State, “The Money Compass” podcast is geared toward the public while addressing the specific needs of farmers. The podcast provides the latest updates aimed at improving the communities’ financial well-being and access to ...

Japanese game maker Nintendo reports robust profits on strong Switch 2 sales

TOKYO (AP) — Nintendo, the Japanese video game maker behind the Super Mario and Pokemon franchises, reported an 18.6% surge in net profit for the first fiscal quarter Friday on the back of strong demand for its new Switch 2 console. Kyoto-based Nintendo Co.’s April-June profit totaled ...

For some employees, education benefits such as tuition assistance prove life-changing

NEW YORK (AP) — After five years of working long nights as a truck driver, Julius Mosley wanted a change. He found driving unfulfilling, and his teenage son needed him to spend more time at home. So Mosley took a job as a customer service representative at a telecommunications company near his home. The employee benefits included being able to take job-related classes for free. He decided he wanted to study leadership so he could learn about managing teams and helping people become the best versions of themselves. His company, Spectrum, paid for a 10-week front-line manager ...

HVAB names new board officers

STATE COLLEGE — The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB) Board of Directors elected Bellefonte business owner and Spring Township Supervisor David Capperella as new HVAB Board Chair, effective July 15. Capperella assumed the gavel from outgoing Chair Jennifer Brooks-Stahl, corporate director of sales for Hospitality Asset Management Company. “It’s an exciting time in Happy Valley and I’m so fortunate to be surrounded by a wonderful group of board members and staff, who represent the best of our community,” Capperella said. “I’m so excited to be following in the ...

Centre Chamber of Business & Industry joins coalition for federal research funding

STATE COLLEGE — The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC) has joined the Business for Federal Research Funding (BFRF) Coalition, a growing, nonpartisan alliance of more than 70 business organizations and chambers of commerce across 33 states. Relaunched in April by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the BFRF Coalition advocates for maintaining and increasing federal funding for research in the federal budget and beyond. “The Boston Chamber is proud to relaunch the Business for Federal Research Coalition, and I am thrilled that the Chamber of Business & ...