Integrity Financial

Happy Labor Day! 🛠️
Today, we take a moment to recognize and appreciate the hard work of individuals across the nation.

Whether you're relaxing at home or enjoying a well-deserved day off, I hope you're able to recharge and enjoy this special day.

To the builders, creators, and doers: Happy Labor Day!

Wildfire smoke can travel far from the flames, creating poor air quality in communities many miles away.

Experts say one of the biggest risks comes from tiny particles in the air, which can contribute to short-term and chronic health issues.

When smoke levels are high, health officials recommend staying indoors and taking steps to keep indoor air as clean as possible.

If you have central air conditioning, use the highest level of filtration your system can handle. Filters rated MERV 13 or higher are ideal, and setting the system to recirculate can help limit outside air.

A portable HEPA air filter can also help. If you only have one, consider using it to create a “clean room” where you can spend most of your time.

Experts also recommend sealing gaps where smoky air can enter and avoiding sources of indoor combustion, including candles, fireplaces, and gas stoves.

Wildfire smoke can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, headaches, and burning eyes or nose. Anyone wheezing, struggling to breathe, or in distress should seek emergency care.


Source:

How to keep the air inside your home clean during wildfires When the air is smoky from burning wildfires, health experts say to stay indoors. But there are steps you should take to keep the air clean inside your home.

Back-to-school season is bringing higher costs for many families.

A new analysis found that a typical basket of school items, including notebooks, lunch boxes, and index cards, is up nearly 8% compared with last year.

School lunches are also more expensive, with the cost of a typical packed lunch up 11%.

The analysis estimates families may spend roughly $4,000 per student on school supplies and lunches this year, including about $175 on school items and $3,800 on packed lunches.

Some items have seen especially sharp increases. Lunch boxes are up 27%, one-subject notebooks are up 23%, and index cards are up 22%.

Higher tariffs, imported school supplies, food prices, and energy costs are all contributing to the increase.

For families, back-to-school shopping is a reminder that seasonal expenses can add up quickly, especially when everyday costs are already stretching household budgets.


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Families face higher costs as back-to-school season nears U.S. households will spend roughly $4,000 per student on school supplies and lunches this year, a new analysis found.

U.S. airlines spent more than $6 billion on jet fuel in May for the second month in a row.

According to government data, airlines spent $6.66 billion on fuel in May, up 84% from a year earlier.

The increase was driven mostly by higher fuel prices, not higher fuel use. U.S. carriers used slightly less fuel than they did a year ago, while the average price paid rose to $4.09 per gallon.

Fuel is typically one of the airline industry’s highest operating costs, which can make carriers especially sensitive to swings in energy prices.

In response to higher fuel costs, airlines have raised fares and fees in some cases and adjusted flight schedules.

For travelers and businesses, the broader takeaway is that energy prices can affect more than the cost of filling up a car. They can also influence airfare, travel budgets, company expenses, and inflation pressures.


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US airlines’ monthly fuel spend topped $6 billion again in May, up 84% from year ago Government data released Tuesday shows that U.S. airlines spent $6.66 billion on jet fuel in May

Heat waves can affect more than daily comfort and public health. They can also create real economic costs.

Extreme heat can reduce productivity among outdoor workers, increase utility bills, strain power grids, reduce crop yields, and keep some consumers closer to home.

One federal climate assessment found that the average number of heat waves in major U.S. cities each year has doubled since the 1980s.

Researchers have also found that more frequent extreme heat and severe droughts can weigh on gross domestic product, while heat-related economic losses have reached trillions of dollars globally in recent decades.

The impact can be especially significant for heat-exposed industries such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, transportation, and mining.

For households and businesses, extreme heat is a reminder that weather risk can affect budgets, supply chains, labor productivity, food prices, and energy costs.


Source:

Do heat waves damage the economy? Experts explain Heat waves threaten costs for the economy, sapping workers' productivity, shutting shoppers inside their homes and driving up utility costs, analysts told ABC News.

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