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Inflation is stubbornly above target, the economy is growing at about a 3% pace and the labor market is holding strong. Put it all together and it sounds like a perfect recipe for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates or at least to stay put. That's not what is likely to happen, however, when the Federal Open Market Committee, the central bank's rate-setting entity, announces its policy decision Wednesday. Instead, futures market traders are pricing in a near-certainty that the FOMC actually will lower its benchmark overnight borrowing rate by a quarter percentage point, or 25 basis points. That would take it down to a target range of 4.25%-4.5%.

Shopping centers across the country are fighting for survival and look to transformation to avoid extinction. It’s clear that consumers still enjoy shopping in person after the Covid pandemic, but the traditional anchor department store has been in decline since 2001 and is no longer the draw it once was. As companies like Macy’s, JCPenney and Sears shrink or cease to exist altogether, real estate developers have been forced to get creative to repurpose those spaces, which typically take up at least half of a mall’s footprint. Read more: cnb.cx/3D2MeZE

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian on Tuesday discussed corporate security in the wake of the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Watch more: cnb.cx/4fqxHnY

If you're eager to save more for retirement, it's not too early to boost 401(k) plan contributions for 2025, financial experts say. For 2025, you can defer up to $23,500 into 401(k) plans, up from $23,000 in 2024. For workers age 50 and older, the 401(k) catch-up contribution remains at $7,500 for 2025. But there is a "super funding" opportunity for 401(k) catch-up contributions for a subset of savers, according to Tommy Lucas, a certified financial planner and enrolled agent at Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo in Orlando, Florida.

A New York grand jury indicted Luigi Mangione on charges of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said Tuesday. Mangione is charged with one count of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism and two counts of second-degree murder, one of which is charged as killing as an act of terrorism. Read more: cnb.cx/49FaU6R

A New York grand jury indicted Luigi Mangione on charges of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said Tuesday. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to file paperwork seeking Mangione’s extradition from Pennsylvania in light of the indictment, her spokesman told NBC News. Mangione, 26, is accused of fatally shooting Thompson on Dec. 4 outside the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan. Thompson, 50, was headed into the hotel for an investor day event for his company’s parent, UnitedHealth Group. New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the killing a “premeditated, preplanned targeted attack.”

National Retail Federation president and CEO Matt Shay on Tuesday discussed what’s in store for ‘Super Saturday.’ Watch more: cnb.cx/3BwlhgE

With the Federal Reserve's recent moves to lower interest rates — and further cuts on the horizon — some federal student loan borrowers are wondering if now is a good time to refinance. "We are already seeing more borrowers tempted to refinance their federal loans," said Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors. Refinancing your federal student loans turns them into a private student loan and transfers the debt from the government to a private company. Borrowers usually refinance in search of a lower interest rate.

Grubhub will pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul over alleged unlawful practices that harmed diners, workers and small businesses, the FTC announced on Tuesday. The complaint claims that Grubhub deceived diners about delivery costs and blocked access to their accounts. The company also deceived workers about how much money they would make delivering food and listed restaurants on its platform without their permission. "Our investigation found that Grubhub tricked its customers, deceived its drivers, and unfairly damaged the reputation and revenues of restaurants that did not partner with Grubhub — all in order to drive scale and accelerate growth," FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a press release.

Yields on cash are cooling, but investors who want to earn a little interest on money they need to keep safe still have options in 2025. Read more with CNBC Pro.