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Borrowers with good credit seeking personal loans during the past seven days prequalified for rates that were higher for 3- and 5-year loans compared to the previous seven days.

For borrowers with credit scores of 720 or higher who used the Credible marketplace to select a lender between July 20 and July 26:

Personal loans have become a popular way to consolidate and pay off credit card debt and other loans. They can also be used to cover unexpected expenses like medical bills, take care of a major purchase or fund home improvement projects.

Personal loan interest rates rose over the last seven days for 3-year loans and 5-year loans. Rates for 5-year loans surged by over 1 percentage point, and 3-year loans spiked 0.30 percentage points. Interest rates for both loan terms remain significantly higher than they were this time last year. Still, borrowers can take advantage of interest savings with a 3- or 5-year personal loan right now. Both loan terms offer interest rates that are much lower than higher-cost borrowing options such as credit cards. 

Whether a personal loan is right for you often depends on multiple factors, including what rate you can qualify for. Comparing multiple lenders and their rates could help ensure you get the best possible personal loan for your needs. 

It’s always a good idea to comparison shop on sites like Credible to understand how much you qualify for and choose the best option for you.

Here are the latest trends in personal loan interest rates from the Credible marketplace, updated weekly.

The chart above shows average prequalified rates for borrowers with credit scores of 720 or higher who used the Credible marketplace to select a lender. 

For the month of June 2023:

Rates on personal loans vary considerably by credit score and loan term. If you’re curious about what kind of personal loan rates you may qualify for, you can use an online tool like Credible to compare options from different private lenders. Checking your rates won’t affect your credit score.

All Credible marketplace lenders offer fixed-rate loans at competitive rates. Because lenders use different methods to evaluate borrowers, it’s a good idea to request personal loan rates from multiple lenders so you can compare your options.

In June, the average prequalified rate selected by borrowers was: 

Depending on factors such as your credit score, which type of personal loan you’re seeking and the loan repayment term, the interest rate can differ. 

As shown in the chart above, a good credit score can mean a lower interest rate, and rates tend to be higher on loans with fixed interest rates and longer repayment terms. 

Many factors influence the interest rate a lender might offer you on a personal loan. But you can take some steps to boost your chances of getting a lower interest rate. Here are some tactics to try.

Generally, people with higher credit scores qualify for lower interest rates. Steps that can help you improve your credit score over time include:

Personal loan repayment terms can vary from one to several years. Generally, shorter terms come with lower interest rates, since the lender’s money is at risk for a shorter period of time.

If your financial situation allows, applying for a shorter term could help you score a lower interest rate. Keep in mind the shorter term doesn’t just benefit the lender – by choosing a shorter repayment term, you’ll pay less interest over the life of the loan.

You may be familiar with the concept of a cosigner if you have student loans. If your credit isn’t good enough to qualify for the best personal loan interest rates, finding a cosigner with good credit could help you secure a lower interest rate.

Just remember, if you default on the loan, your cosigner will be on the hook to repay it. And cosigning for a loan could also affect their credit score.

Before applying for a personal loan, it’s a good idea to shop around and compare offers from several different lenders to get the lowest rates. Online lenders typically offer the most competitive rates – and can be quicker to disburse your loan than a brick-and-mortar establishment. 

But don’t worry, comparing rates and terms doesn’t have to be a time-consuming process.

Credible makes it easy. Just enter how much you want to borrow and you’ll be able to compare multiple lenders to choose the one that makes the most sense for you.

Credible is a multi-lender marketplace that empowers consumers to discover financial products that are the best fit for their unique circumstances. Credible’s integrations with leading lenders and credit bureaus allow consumers to quickly compare accurate, personalized loan options – without putting their personal information at risk or affecting their credit score. The Credible marketplace provides an unrivaled customer experience, as reflected by over 4,500 positive Trustpilot reviews and a TrustScore of 4.7/5.

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A voluntary recall for nearly 10,900 cases of Trader Joe’s broccoli cheddar soup is underway. 

Frozen broccoli florets in cases of 20-ounce Trader Joe’s Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup contained insects, prompting the recall, an enforcement report published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said. 

Winter Gardens Quality Foods, a Pennsylvania-based company, recalled the soup July 10. 

FOX Business reached out to Trader Joe’s and Winter Gardens Quality Foods for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication. 

VAN’S GLUTEN-FREE WAFFLES RECALLED OVER POTENTIAL UNDECLARED ALLERGEN

The recall of the broccoli cheddar soup cases comes the same month the grocery store chain had a recall due to the possibility of rocks inside Trader Joe’s Almond Windmill Cookies and Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies with certain sell-by dates.

TRADER JOE’S COOKIES MAY CONTAIN ROCKS, COMPANY SAYS IN NEW RECALL

Stores in seven states — California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington — received the 10,889 cases of broccoli cheddar soup potentially containing bugs, according to the FDA document.

The FDA enforcement report about the recall identified 15 lot numbers and use-by dates. The dates of the affected soup include July 18-20, July 25-27, Aug. 1-2, Aug 9-10, Aug. 29-30, Sept. 4, Sept. 6 and Sept. 15, according to the agency.

FROZEN PINEAPPLE PRODUCTS SOLD AT MAJOR GROCERS RECALLED OVER POSSIBLE LISTERIA CONTAMINATION

On its website, Trader Joe’s said it created the broccoli cheddar soup in response to the popularity of the grocery chain’s Unexpected Cheddar cheese. The company first started offering that cheese in 2011, and the product became a favorite among shoppers.

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TikTok has inspired users with a new trend called “Girl Dinner,” but the app’s users are not the only ones trying out this viral fad.

Popeyes has come out with a new menu item based on the viral “Girl Dinner” trend that has been circulating on TikTok.

The #girldinner has over 488.7 million views on the social media app. Each video depicts Gen Z women preparing “meals” made up of smaller portions or a concerning lack of calories, as Fox News Digital reported previously.

FAST FOOD, RETAIL WORKERS ON TIKTOK CLAIM THEY COLLECT REWARDS POINTS FROM CUSTOMERS’ LEFTOVER RECEIPTS

The trend comes in many different forms.

Some “girl dinners” look like charcuterie boards with bread, crackers, cheese and cured meats, while others include popcorn paired with wine or a single jar of peanut butter

The chicken fast food chain’s “Girl Dinner” meal is made up of different sides that the restaurant offers — no chicken offered.

The “meal” includes the chain’s regular side dishes: homestyle mac & cheese, Cajun fries, mashed potatoes with Cajun gravy, red beans & rice, coleslaw and à la carte biscuits.

Some viewers responded to the food chain’s TikTok by expressing their excitement about the new addition.

WHAT’S A ‘BORG’? GEN Z’S HANGOVER-PROOF TIKTOK TREND BECOMES A STAPLE FOR WARDING OFF DRINKING DANGERS

“Everyone looks at me crazy when I order mashed potatoes and fries. I feel validated,” one viewer commented.

“I’m so confused. It’s just all the sides … no?” another wrote. 

“It’s girl dinner,” Popeyes replied, adding a winky face emoji.

“Whoever did this deserves a raise,” another TikToker commented.

While fans are in support of the viral trend, “girl dinners” in general have raised some concern among nutritionists and dietitians.

CHICAGO POPEYES EMPLOYEE SEEN ON TIKTOK DESTROYING RESTAURANT AFTER ALLEGEDLY NOT GETTING PAID FOR A MONTH

Some in the medical field have noted the lack of substantial nutrition that comes with the so-called “meals,” as Fox News Digital reported recently.

The small portions of “girl dinners” that look more like snacks are not enough to stand alone as a meal and may lead to harmful habits down the line, some medical professionals noted.

The trend has sparked debate — but that has not stopped social media users from showing others how they prepare their very own “girl dinner.”

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Fox News Digital reached out to Popeyes for comment about its new “Girl Dinner” offering but didn’t hear back by time of publication. 

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Boeing took a massive financial hit stemming from the planned crew launch of its Starliner spacecraft this month. 

The Starliner program incurred a $257 million loss during the second quarter “primarily due to the impacts of the previously announced launch delay,” Boeing reported Wednesday. 

It pushes Boeing’s total charges for the program to about $1.4 billion, Boeing confirmed with FOX Business on Thursday.

BOEING STARLINER DOCKS WITH INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR FIRST TIME

Boeing will work to launch the Starliner capsule, with astronauts, to and from the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time. 

The capsule was scheduled to have a test flight in July with two astronauts. However, the test flight, already behind schedule, was halted yet again when final reviews uncovered issues with the parachute lines and other problems that were present on last year’s test flight with no one on board. Officials said the issues should have been caught years ago.

During the second quarter, Boeing’s Defense, Space, & Security division suffered a $527 million loss in part because of the issues with the Starliner. 

Boeing further noted that its Defense, Space & Security second-quarter operating margin was “primarily driven by losses on certain fixed-price development programs, as well as continued operational impacts of labor instability and supply chain disruption on other programs.”

Boeing said it is working with NASA to determine a new launch date.

BOEING’S STARLINER RETURNS FROM SPACE STATION

Boeing Program Manager Mark Nappi previously said the test flight could happen by year’s end, although he doesn’t “want to commit to any dates or time frames” until the problems get fixed.

NASA hired Boeing and SpaceX to transport astronauts to and from the space station, though NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich pleaded for another provider for crew transportation.

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SpaceX has now completed 10 crew flights, three of them private. Boeing had to repeat its 2019 test flight without a crew because of software and other issues.

Following a successful test flight with astronauts, NASA previously said it “will begin the final process of certifying the Starliner spacecraft and systems for regular crew rotation flights to the space station.”

The goal is to have one SpaceX and one Boeing taxi flight to the station each year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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McDonald’s said Thursday that revenue growth is expected to moderate in the second half of the year as signs of easing inflation prompt the burger giant to temper menu prices.

McDonald’s exceeded Wall Street expectations Thursday and said its global comparable sales added 11.7% in the second quarter, beating analysts’ average estimate of an 8.88% increase, according to Refinitiv data.

Excluding items, McDonald’s earned $3.17 per share, topping estimates of $2.79.

ANOTHER MICHIGAN MOM FINDS BOX CUTTER IN MCDONALD’S HAPPY MEAL

“As we head into the back half of the year, and as inflation begins to come down, I would certainly expect our pricing levels to also start to come down,” CFO Ian Borden said on a post-earnings call.

With more than 13,000 locations around the U.S., McDonald’s also used promotional deals like the Grimace Birthday Meal – a popular limited-time launch that featured purple milkshakes created in honor of the Grimace character in ads – to draw more customers.

“This quarter, the theme is, well, if I’m being honest, the theme was Grimace,” McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said during the earnings call.

MCDONALD’S FRANCHISE IN LOUISIANA, TEXAS FINED FOR HIRING MINORS TO WORK ILLEGALLY

Placer.ai data showed traffic at U.S. locations climbed 8.4% during the second quarter while overall traffic at fast-food and quick-service chains climbed just 1.2% in the same period.

 McDonald’s shares are up around 13% since Jan. 1.

FLORIDA FAMILY AWARDED $800K AFTER MCDONALD’S CHICKEN MCNUGGET BURNED 4-YEAR-OLD GIRL

Also in the second quarter, comparable sales in the U.S. rose 10.3% while those in its internationally operated markets added 11.9%.

MCDONALD’S NEW COOKIES AND CREME PIE APPEARS TO BE TASTE-TESTED BY TIKTOK USERS BEFORE ACTUAL ‘LAUNCH DATE’

“Our second-quarter results reflect consistently strong execution of our Accelerating the Arches strategy, with global comparable sales growth of 11.7% and double-digit comparable sales growth across each of our segments,” Kempczinski said in a statement. “The McDonald’s brand has never been stronger and I remain inspired by the ability of the McDonald’s System to create cultural conversations and develop industry-leading innovations. While global macroeconomic challenges persist, we continue to invest in our growth drivers and our brand to meet the customer needs of tomorrow.”

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Reuters contributed to this report.

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As you know, Hunter Biden’s sweetheart deal blew up in a Wilmington, Delaware court yesterday, thanks to the good offices of Judge Maryellen Noreika. Judge Noreika, who in the past made political contributions to both Republicans and Democrats, was in fact a Donald Trump nominee, but her nomination was signed off on by both Democrat Delaware Joe Biden cronies Chris Coons and Tom Carper. She had bipartisan support. That’s my point.

When Judge Noreika asked the prosecutors and defendants what the constitutional reasoning was behind this sweetheart deal, neither side could answer. So, in that moment, the Hunter Biden honeymoon – at least temporarily – was ended.

Now, you folks probably know all this, but for those of you fortunate enough to watch last night’s show, I want to play back what distinguished Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton said because he nailed it. All about the immunity provision killing the deal. Listen and smile:

STUART VARNEY: HUNTER’S ‘PERVERSION OF JUSTICE’ IS A STAIN ON BIDEN’S PRESIDENCY 

TOM COTTON: “The plea agreement between the Biden Department of Justice and Hunter Biden last month purported to give him total immunity for all past crimes and misdeeds and that’s what blew up in that plea deal today. It wasn’t the judge rejecting it, it’s that the US attorney sheepishly admitted that they couldn’t guarantee it and Hunter Biden’s lawyers, who obviously knew that that’s what they were pursuing, refused to go forward with the plea deal unless it gave him blanket immunity for all crimes. So, let’s be clear. There’s no confusion here between these two sides and when Biden Department of Justice and Hunter Biden’s criminal defense attorneys sit down, those aren’t adversaries negotiating. Those are coconspirators strategizing. Now, what the Department of Justice should do is what they should have done all along – allow their investigators to pursue the facts wherever they lead and charge Hunter Biden with the crimes he has committed and take it to a jury trial.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself and, frankly, no legal commentator has said it better than that. Senator Cotton nailed it. He is not even a lawyer. Now, what happens next when all these lawyers reconvene in thirty days is anybody’s guess, but I only wish to point out that had this so-called global immunity deal ever gone through, it would’ve ruled out any prosecution of Hunter Biden’s influence peddling, pay-to-play transactions with various evildoers in places as far-flung as China, Ukraine, Romania, Russia, Kazakhstan, or lord knows where.

If the global immunity deal had gone through, it would’ve ruled out any investigation of Joe Biden’s shakedown and extortion of the Burisma CEO. I know these are all allegations, but the walls are closing in as the evidence mounts. So, the Bidens – father and son – and their cronies could’ve all been granted immunity were it not for the fact that one smart judge smelled a rat and put an end to it.

Thank heavens there are some honest judges left in the world. Of course, this story is not over yet, and we’ll see in a month’s time what the next episode brings. Now, two more things. Former President Donald Trump’s attorneys met today with Special Counsel Jack Smith’s DOJ team, but the former president claims it’s “fake news” that his team was informed of an imminent indictment.

We shall see. Why do I think Jack Smith is no Maryellen Noreika?

Finally, at one of his made-up climate-change end-of-the-world heatwave events today, President Joe Biden was asked if he would pardon his son Hunter. Didn’t say “yes,” didn’t say “no” — just didn’t say. Take a listen:

MARK MEREDITH QUESTIONS BIDEN: “Mr. President, are you considering pardoning your son?”

[NO ANSWER]

Silence. However, Mr. Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked the same question, by the very same reporter: “Would Joe Biden pardon his son, Hunter?” And she promptly answered, “No. ” Take a listen:

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MARK MEREDITH: “Is there any possibility that the president would end up pardoning his son?”

KJP: “No.”

MEREDITH: “Well is there –”

KJP: “I just said no. I just answered.” 

She may rue the day. Just saying.

This article is adapted from Larry Kudlow’s opening commentary on the July 27, 2023, edition of “Kudlow.” 

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Concerns about the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the entertainment industry have played a significant role in the ongoing Hollywood strike by actors and writers. That hasn’t stopped companies with studios from staffing up with AI specialists.

While the strike by actors and writers reflects a broader set of concerns beyond the impact of AI on the entertainment industry, including pay and benefits, the threat posed by the emerging and increasingly sophisticated technology has raised alarm. 

Actors have expressed fears about AI being used to replicate an actor’s image and likeness without the actor’s consent, while writers have pushed for limits on the use of AI to write or rewrite scripts.

At a rally in Times Square hosted by SAG-AFTRA this week, actor Bryan Cranston delivered remarks aimed at Disney CEO Bob Iger.

NETFLIX IN SWEET SPOT DESPITE HOLLYWOOD STRIKE

“We will not be having our jobs taken away and given to robots. … We will not have you take away our right to work and earn a decent living,” Cranston said. “And, lastly and most importantly, we will not allow you to take away our dignity.”

Despite concerns raised by the actors and writers on strike, the seemingly inexorable rise of AI and the need to stay on the cutting edge of emerging technology has resulted in entertainment studios continuing to seek out AI specialists against the backdrop of labor unrest. Several studios have active listings for AI and machine learning roles that have garnered attention amid the strike.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Netflix has several job postings related to AI and machine learning on its website, including a product manager role first noticed by The Intercept that lists a pay range of $300,000 to $900,000 annually. 

The listing states that the product manager would “define the strategic vision” for Netflix’s machine learning platform and work to “increase the leverage” of that platform across the company.

One notable AI and machine learning listing from Disney’s careers website is for a senior vice president role related to postproduction and innovation for Disney Branded Television, which produces content for children and families. 

The posting for the role, which offers a salary between $270,500 to $371,900, seeks applicants who can “champion the constant evolution of our tools and processes across all aspects of the development pipelines. Be on the leading edge of technology developments, like Artificial Intelligence, and work to deliver solutions to improve processes like speed-to-market, content quality, efficiency and cost.”

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A job posting at Sony spotted by The Hollywood Reporter seeks a senior research scientist and manager who specializes in AI ethics, specifically how they relate to fairness, transparency and accountability.

The role, which lists a salary range of $170,000 to $210,000, would help manage a multinational team of research scientists based in the U.S., Japan and Switzerland that executes “ambitious AI projects.” The AI ethics manager would also “provide advice and consultation for business units on AI ethics, managing cross-functional stakeholder relationships.”

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