Today in Markets & Money: “Stable Doesn’t Mean Cheap”
Ethan Teng
Published August 28, 2025
2 min read
Ask Linc–style Question of the Day:
👉 “If I’m saving for a house in the next 2–3 years, should I park that money in Treasuries or stay liquid in cash?”
🏷️ Inflation & Rates
CPI is sitting at 322.13 (core 328.66). Translation: prices aren’t spiraling, but they’re not falling either. Inflation expectations are basically pinned around 2% for the next 30 years. The Fed Funds Rate is still 4.33% — their way of saying, “We’re not budging.”
💸 What this means for your wallet:
Stuff costs what it costs. You’re not getting 2019 prices back, but at least you’re not watching them double anymore.
💵 Treasury Yields
- 1-year: 3.85%
- 5-year: 3.75%
- 10-year: 4.26%
A flat(ish) curve = markets are calm, not panicked.
💸 What this means for your wallet:
If your savings account is under 4%, you’re losing out. CDs and Treasuries are still handing you free money compared to the banks.
📈 The Stock Market
The S&P 500 closed at 646.63, up 0.23%. Range: 644.42 – 647.37. Basically, it inched higher while everyone pretended to care.
💸 What this means for your wallet:
Your 401(k) probably ticked up a smidge. No champagne. No panic. Just another Thursday.
🏡 Mortgages & Housing
30-year fixed mortgage? Still 6.58%. The housing market = expensive and stuck. Buyers are squeezed, sellers are salty, and Zillow doomscrolling is still a national pastime.
💸 What this means for your wallet:
If you bought pre-2022, you’re golden. If you’re shopping now, budget like you’re buying at Whole Foods.
🎤 Fed Watch
Fed Funds Rate: 4.33%. 10-year Treasury: 4.26%. Markets and the Fed are basically holding hands, humming in sync: “Rates stay high.”
💸 What this means for your wallet:
Borrowing is still pricey. Credit cards, car loans, student loans — all of it stings.
🧾 Bottom Line
The theme: stable, not cheap. Inflation is controlled, stocks are calm, bonds are steady, mortgages are stubborn. It’s the economic version of “fine, thanks for asking.”
💡 Money Move of the Day
If you’ve been lazy about moving your cash, fix that. High-yield savings, CDs, Treasuries — they’re still paying better than the big banks. Don’t leave money on the table.
👋 And this is why I built Ask Linc: an AI investing app that pulls in your actual accounts + today’s market and tells you the thing Google can’t — “Okay, but what do I do?”
Ask Linc–style Question of the Day:
👉 “If I’m saving for a house in the next 2–3 years, should I park that money in Treasuries or stay liquid in cash?”
That’s the kind of tradeoff Ask Linc was built to answer → asklinc.com