Black gold's up, the shiny kind's down – Gold is down 8% from the record high it set in January and down 6.51% for March after a back-to-back losing streak. Between rising oil prices and news that the Federal Reserve was holding rates steady, gold sold off several sessions in a row—though it’s still up more than 60% from a year ago. (Source: The Wall Street Journal, as of 3/18/26)

Between a rock and a hard place – Central banks in the US, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Sweden, and Japan held interest rates steady at their meetings last week, despite rising energy prices threatening to stall inflation progress. US policymakers are caught between supporting a softening labor market and fending off the threat of higher inflation. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)

You’ll never believe who came in first – Companies in the S&P 500 Index grew their earnings-per-share (EPS) at a 14.1% year-over-year rate overall in the last quarter of 2025. Unsurprisingly, information technology was the standout sector, showing an impressive EPS growth rate of 33.5% year-over-year for the quarter. (Source: FactSet)

The yen said, "not so fast" – Japan’s wholesale inflation slowed to 2.0% year over year in February, marking a third straight monthly deceleration. However, a weak yen pushed import prices up 2.8%, keeping cost pressures elevated, complicating the Bank of Japan’s rate outlook and serving as a reminder that currency and energy shocks can prolong global inflation risks even as headline data improve. (Source: Reuters)

No refund for you! – Millions of taxpayers expecting quick refunds are instead getting IRS notices, as missing or invalid bank information now triggers automatic delays. Under new IRS rules aimed at phasing out paper checks, refunds are frozen until filers provide direct deposit details—meaning a simple banking oversight can push a refund back weeks, not days. (Source: USA Today)

But there’s never a wait for the bathroom – In 1980, 23% of US households were single-person households; by 2024, that share had climbed to 30%, reflecting decades of later marriage, longer life spans, and greater economic independence. But it comes with a hefty price tag: Today’s single renters pay about $10,470 more per year than people who share housing. (Source: The New York Times)

Meet George Jetson – The FAA approved eight pilot programs to allow companies to test "eVTOL" vehicles (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) this summer. The three-year program will span 26 states and could pave the way for air taxis and add additional options for regional transportation and emergency medical responses. (Source: Tech Crunch)

But what about the St. Patrick’s Day bar crawls?? – US alcohol consumption has fallen to a record low, with only 54% of adults reporting they drink, a 90-year low. At the same time, a record-high 53% of Americans say even moderate drinking is bad for their health, reflecting a sharp rise in concern driven especially by younger adults. (Source: Gallup)

This is a wildly specific record category – A Charizard-shaped Cheeto fetched $87,840 at auction, making it one of the most expensive foods ever sold. Originally discovered several years ago and sold for $350 on eBay, the so-called “Cheetozard” earned a Guinness World Records title for the highest price paid for a videogame-likeness corn snack. (Source: Guinness World Records)

And kids today don’t even know who he is – A copy of Michael Jordan's 1983 "Sports Illustrated" cover debut sold for $229,360. The cover appeared in the magazine's Nov. 28, 1983, "College Basketball Preview" issue in which Jordan, still at the University of North Carolina (UNC), was featured alongside UNC teammate Sam Perkins. The sale set a public record for a graded magazine of any kind. (Source: Yahoo! Sports)