Clark Biweekly 8 4 25

Author

Sally McDonald
August 04, 2025

💵 Today’s Top Stories
August discounts

Back to school items (tax-free in some places), laptops, plane tickets and summer clothing are just some of the items available on sale this month. Read more.

Delete Google data

Many of us use Google every day. But it also stores a ton of our data. Here’s a step-by-step guide to delete your Google activity. Read more.

Insurance

Car insurance premiums have gone up, up and away since 2021. But some companies have stabilized prices while others have not. So Clark implores you to shop around before your policy renews. Read more.

Myths

Our investing expert peels back the curtain on myths you need to get past to maximize your effectiveness and reach your investing goals. Read more.

Credit card

You can spend the same amount of money and still improve your finances by upgrading your rewards credit cards – and by taking advantage of some of these strong welcome bonuses. Read more.

🏠️ Today’s Current Mortgage Rates

According to Freddie Mac, 30-year mortgage rates are 6.72% and 15-year rates are 5.85% as of July 31, 2025. The following chart shows the 30-year mortgage rate trend over the last year.

Mortgage Rates 073125
✈️ Connecting Flights for International Travelers Getting More Convenient

Traveling by air is getting more convenient of late.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) no longer requires you to remove your shoes in the security line. There’s heavy speculation that TSA may soon relax its strident liquid rules.

Now TSA is running a test pilot program with American Airlines called One Stop Security. It allows eligible international travelers, when taking connecting flights, to avoid the standard re-clearing TSA security and dealing with customs a second time (your bag gets automatically checked to your final destination).

“For an even faster arrival, preclearance airports like Dublin or Toronto let you complete customs before boarding, so you land in the U.S. like it were a domestic flight,” Dollar Flight Club newsletter The Navigator wrote.

The current test resides at Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) and applies to flights from London.

One Stop Security “is expected to cut connection times – which typically include clearing U.S. Customs, claiming checked bags, rechecking bags and then clearing TSA security – by more than half, dramatically improving the customer journey.”

📊 Stat of the Day

💼 83,000: Number of jobs added in the U.S. in July. In addition, the Labor Department revised the June number down from 74,000 to 3,000. “Cooling Job Market Opens Door to September Cut Despite Inflation Jitters,” the Wall Street Journal headline read.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
Patio furniture
Amazon box
Laptop
🎙️ Podcast

It’s time for "Clark Stinks!" Christa reads the latest "Clark Stinks!" submissions and Clark responds. Also, are you unknowingly overpaying for everyday essentials? Clark breaks down why the price gap between Amazon and its competitors is growing, and why convenience on Amazon is costing your wallet. He shares his insider tips for avoiding "price shock" and saving serious money.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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