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The precious metal is rallying into the end of the year for several reasons

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Gold prices have rebounded on renewed expectations for U.S. interest-rate cuts, persistent geopolitical risk, and strong central bank demand.

• A softer dollar and stabilizing inflation data have restored golds appeal as both a hedge and a portfolio diversifier.

• Looking ahead to 2026, analysts see a constructivebut more volatileprice environment shaped by monetary policy, fiscal stress, and evolving investor behavior.

After a choppy period marked by stubborn inflation and restrictive monetary policy, gold has staged a notable rebound, reminding investors why the metal remains a core defensive asset.

Prices have climbed as markets recalibrate expectations for economic growth and interest rates, while global uncertainty continues to underpin demand.

The key driver behind golds resurgence has been a shift in monetary policy outlook. As inflation shows clearer signs of cooling and economic growth moderates, investors are increasingly pricing in a gradual easing cycle by major central banks, led by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Lower real yields reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold, making the metal more attractive relative to bonds and cash.

A soft dollar

At the same time, the U.S. dollar, long a headwind for gold, has softened from recent highs. A weaker dollar lowers the cost of gold for international buyers and typically supports higher prices, reinforcing the upward momentum.

Beyond interest rates, central bank buying has emerged as a powerful and persistent force in the gold market. Emerging market central banks, in particular, continue to diversify reserves away from the dollar, viewing gold as a politically neutral store of value. This steady, price-insensitive demand has helped create a firmer floor under the market.

Geopolitical risk has also played a role. Ongoing conflicts, trade fragmentation, and concerns about global fiscal sustainability have revived interest in gold as a hedge against systemic shocks. Even when equity markets rally, many institutional investors are maintaining or increasing gold allocations as insurance against sudden volatility.

Investors are giving gold another look

After outflows during periods of rising rates, gold-backed exchange-traded funds have begun to see renewed interest. This reflects a broader reassessment of portfolio risk, as investors balance optimism about economic resilience with caution about debt levels, political uncertainty, and long-term inflation risks.

Importantly, analysts say golds rebound has not been driven by panic buying, but by measured reallocation. That suggests the move may be more durable than short-lived spikes seen during crisis periods.

The 2026 outlook

Looking ahead to 2026, the consensus view among many market strategists is cautiously bullish, but with higher volatility. If central banks are firmly in an easing cycle by then, gold could benefit from lower real rates and a potentially weaker dollar environment. Fiscal pressures in major economies, including rising debt servicing costs, may further enhance golds appeal as a long-term hedge.

If gold finishes 2025 above $4,400, then it could see $4,859-$5,590 in 2026, Alex Ebkarian, COO at Allegiance Gold, told CNBC.

However, the path is unlikely to be linear. Strong economic growth or a resurgence in inflation could delay or reverse rate cuts, creating headwinds for prices. Additionally, competition from alternative assetssuch as cryptocurrencies or higher-yielding instrumentscould cap upside during periods of risk-on sentiment.

Analysts say golds recent rebound reflects a recalibration of macro expectations rather than a single catalyst. As investors look toward 2026, gold appears positioned to remain a strategic asset, less about speculative gains and more about resilience.

For portfolios navigating an uncertain mix of monetary easing, geopolitical tension, and fiscal strain, golds role as a stabilizer may prove just as valuable as its potential for price appreciation.

If approved by regulators, deposits could receive FDIC protection

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• PayPal has applied to create its own bank, filing with Utah regulators and the FDIC to establish PayPal Bank, an industrial loan company.

• The move would streamline small-business lending, building on more than $30 billion PayPal has already provided to businesses worldwide since 2013.

• The proposed bank could also offer FDIC-insured savings accounts, expanding PayPals financial services footprint in the U.S.

PayPal started life as a payment app, but it has bigger ambitions. The company is taking a major step toward becoming a more traditional financial institution, announcing plans to establish PayPal Bank, a Utah-chartered industrial loan company.

The digital payments giant has submitted applications to both the Utah Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, seeking regulatory approval to move forward.

If approved, PayPal Bank would allow the company to deliver small-business lending more directly and efficiently in the United States. PayPal says the bank would reduce its reliance on third-party financial institutions while strengthening its core business and expanding economic opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Significant small business lender

PayPal has been a significant lender to small businesses for more than a decade. Since 2013, the company has provided over $30 billion in loans and working capital to more than 420,000 business accounts globally. According to the company, those funds have helped small businesses grow, purchase inventory, and invest in staff and technology areas where access to traditional bank financing can be limited.

Securing capital remains a significant hurdle for small businesses striving to grow and scale, said Alex Chriss, PayPals president and chief executive officer. Establishing PayPal Bank will strengthen our business and improve our efficiency, enabling us to better support small business growth and economic opportunities across the U.S.

Beyond lending, PayPal Bank is expected to offer interest-bearing savings accounts to customers. The bank would also pursue direct membership with U.S. card networks, complementing PayPals existing processing and settlement activities and further integrating its payments ecosystem.

Customer deposits held at PayPal Bank would be eligible for FDIC insurance if the bank receives regulatory approval, providing an added layer of security for consumers.

The vintage vibe is cute until it hits your cart total

• Nostalgia = a viral tax. Its not just cute, its designed to make you rebuy the whole vibe

• Whos spending: Millennials are driving it, and TikTok is basically the checkout lane

• Dont overpay: Buy one anchor item, wait 24 hours on TikTok finds, and thrift/resale the rest

Nostalgia isnt just about clever holiday gifts anymore, its an actual sales strategy. Youve probably seen them all over your social media feeds. The new toys made to look vintage, the retro sweaters, and the cozy throwback Christmas dcor. RetailMeNots latest survey shows exactly how and who is being pulled into the nostalgia trend.

What RetailMeNot found about holiday shopping in 2025

Nostalgia and viral trends are influencing purchases. RetailMeNot surveyed 1,169 U.S. adults and found that 40% of shoppers say nostalgic or viral holiday trends are helping to shape their buying decisions this year.

This change in shopping behavior shows this is more than just some clever inspiration on your feeds, consumers are actually starting to buy this stuff in record numbers.

Millennials are driving the throwback spending. RetailMeNot reports 58% of Millennials have purchased (or plan to purchase) based on these cozy nostalgic trends. Think things like Ralph Lauren Christmas, classic plaid, 90s holiday nostalgia, and retro gaming systems from the 80s.

Gen Z is split: buying some, saving a lot. Among Gen Z, RetailMeNot found 37% are buying based on these trends, while 35% are simply saving ideas and building dream dcor boards. Even when Gen Z isnt buying, theyre still feeding the trend because saving stuff and ideas still helps to boostwhat goes viral.

Nostalgic dcor is beating modern/minimal. When it comes to decorating style, RetailMeNot found:

• 29% choosing classic & nostalgic dcor
• 21% choosing modern & minimal
• 19% choosing fun & festive

Translation: shoppers are clearly more intotraditional and classic styles, and retailers are taking notice of this trend and stocking up.

TikTok has become a shopping funnel. RetailMeNot found that a whopping 49% of consumers say TikTok influences at least some of their holiday purchases these days.

Gen Z leads the pack with almost half saying 25% of their buys come from TikTok, and 31% say half or more of their shopping lists start there.

Millennials arent far behind this trend, with 21% saying most of their holiday purchases come from TikTok trends. Its clear that the TikTok Shop has become a checkout lane this holiday season.

Some traditions are getting cut. RetailMeNot also found shoppers are ready to ditch a few overdone holiday staples:

• Matching family pajamas (42%)
• White Elephant exchanges (41%)
• Fruitcakes (39%)
• Work Secret Santa (36%)
• Elf on the Shelf (24%)

Translation: people still want those cozy and meaningful dcor and gift ideas, but they seem to be cutting what feels expensive, forced, or slightly annoying.

Tips to get the same vibe without paying the viral tax

Use the One Anchor Rule. Pick one nostalgic item that does the heavy lifting. Everything else is optional.

Smart anchors include a statement wreath, one set of retro ornaments, a plaid throw, or one movie Christmas sweater youll re-wear next year.

Remember that the algorithm wants you to redecorate your entire house with this stuff. But keep in mind that one anchor gets you 80% of the look you want for 20% of the cost.

Treat TikTok products like a recommendation only.Before you buy, try this simple strategy:

• Save it (dont add it your cart)
• Wait 24 hours
• Re-shop it in three places: resale, a non-viral dupe, or the brands site with a better promo

If you still want it tomorrow, fine. If you dont, you just avoided an emotional checkout.

Shop nostalgic categories where old is the point: Vintage-inspired dcor is one of the easiest things to buy secondhand, because its supposed to look classic.

To this end, always check resale spots first:

Best spots: Facebook Marketplace for bundles/lots, thrift stores for one-offs, and resale apps for branded throwbacks.

Clever trick: try searching by vibe words like plaid Christmas, retro ornaments, Christmas village, or 90s toys, not just something simple like holiday decor.

Bottom line: Nostalgia is fun, but its also a shortcut retailers use to turn your warm and fuzzy feelings into spending. If you love the throwback look, keep it simple and buy one anchor item, try to buy the rest from the resale market, and take a 24-hour pause for TikTok finds.

From fake delivery alerts to phony charity pleas, experts warn scammers are ramping up calls just as Americans get busiest

• Holiday scam robocalls and robotexts are surging nationwide, with scammers posing as charities, delivery services, and trusted organizations to take advantage of peak shopping stress.

• Fraudsters are using more sophisticated, multi-channel tactics, combining phone calls, texts, and urgent messages to pressure consumers into sharing personal or financial information.

• Experts warn scam tactics will keep evolving through the holidays, shifting from charity appeals now to loan, return, gift card, and tax in the weeks ahead.

If your phone has been ringing more than usual this holiday season, youre not imagining it and theres a good chance at least some of those calls arent legitimate.

As Americans rush to order gifts, track packages, and manage tight budgets, scammers are doing what they do best: taking advantage of the chaos. As holiday scam robocalls and robotexts surge nationwide, fraudsters are using increasingly convincing tactics to steal money and personal information.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with John Haraburda, Director of Product Management at Transaction Network Services (TNS) to learn about the most common robocall making the rounds now and how to avoid them and protect yourself during the busiest shopping season of the year.

Common

Haraburda shared two of the most common circulating this holiday season that consumers should be looking out for:

• Charity : These have increased dramatically in the past month, as bad actors seek to exploit the giving nature of the holiday season. Bad actors create organizations that operate under names that sound legitimate and claim to be raising much-needed funds. If you are looking into donating money to a charity, make sure to double check the legitimacy of the organization and how they solicit donations. Many legitimate organizations will not do this over the phone or make robocalls, and indicate that on their website.

• Multimodal : Bad actors also seem to be increasing the frequency of multi-modal , where text and voice calls as well as other integrated tactics are used in order to create a greater sense of urgency and legitimacy of the attacks.

How to protect yourself

With AI making easier than ever, its important for consumers to know how to spot them and how to protect themselves and their personal data.

Haraburda broke down four best practices for consumers to protect themselves from falling victim to these :

• Never share personal or financial details through unverified links:These scam attacks often prompt users to donate, directing them to malicious websites that request bank account details, credit card numbers, or other sensitive personal information. Dont click on links from any unknown senders.

• Verify with official sources: Before clicking on suspicious links, confirm the legitimacy of any charitable cause through official websites or verified phone numbers. Always double check with legitimate sources before donating.

• Look for red flags: Even convincing robocalls and robotexts may contain small errors such as misspelled names, incorrect organization titles, or unofficial web addresses.

• Report and block: Block any number that sends a suspicious call or text, and report the scam to the FTC or your State Attorney General.

What to look for in the coming weeks

As we creep closer to the holidays, the scam tactics are likely to change. Haraburda gave some insight into how these efforts are evolving over the next few weeks.

We anticipate a shift from charity collections to hardship or loan solutions as we get closer to Christmas as consumers try to prepare for the holiday, he said. After the holidays, we typically see return elevate as gifts are returned and gift card as well.

Then, by the middle of January we move right into tax becoming the dominant attack once again.