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Business events scheduled for the coming month

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

FRIDAY, Aug. 1

WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases employment data for July, 8:30 a.m.; Commerce Department releases personal income and spending for June, 8:30 a.m.; Institute for Supply Management releases its manufacturing index for July, 10 a.m.; Commerce Department releases construction spending for June, 10 a.m.

DETROIT — Automakers release vehicle sales for July.

Procter & Gamble Co. reports quarterly financial results before the market opens.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reports quarterly financial results after the market closes.

TUESDAY, Aug. 5

WASHINGTON– Commerce Department releases factory orders for June, 10 a.m.; Institute for Supply Management releases its service sector index for July, 10 a.m.

FRANKFURT, Germany — Automaker BMW AG reports second-quarter earnings.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 6

WASHINGTON — Commerce Department releases international trade data for June, 8:30 a.m.

BERLIN — Germany’s Economy Ministry releases June industrial orders figures for Europe’s biggest economy.

THURSDAY, Aug. 7

WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.; Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates, 10 a.m.; Federal Reserve releases consumer credit data for June, 3 p.m.

NEW YORK — Selected chain retailers release July sales.

FRANKFURT, Germany — European Central Bank’s governing council meets to set monetary policy for the eurozone.

BERLIN — Germany’s Economy Ministry releases June industrial production figures for Europe’s biggest economy.

GENEVA — Swiss food and drink giant Nestle reports half year results.

FRIDAY, Aug. 8

WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases second-quarter productivity data, 8:30 a.m.; Commerce Department releases wholesale trade inventories for June, 10 a.m.

BERLIN — Germany’s Federal Statistical Office releases export and import data for June.

TUESDAY, Aug. 12

WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases job openings and labor turnover survey for June, 10 a.m.; Treasury releases federal budget for July, 2 p.m.

BERLIN — Germany’s ZEW institute releases its monthly index of investor confidence in Europe’s biggest economy.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 13

WASHINGTON — Commerce Department releases retail sales data for July, 8:30 a.m.; Commerce Department releases business inventories for June, 10 a.m.

TOKYO — Preliminary GDP data for April-June.

THURSDAY, Aug. 14

WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.; Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates, 10 a.m.

BERLIN — Germany’s Federal Statistical Office releases second-quarter economic growth figure.

FRIDAY, Aug. 15

WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases the Producer Price Index for July, 8:30 a.m.; Federal Reserve releases industrial production for July, 9:15 a.m.;

MONDAY, Aug. 18

WASHINGTON — National Association of Home Builders releases housing market index for August, 10 a.m.

TUESDAY, Aug. 19

WASHINGTON — Commerce Department releases housing starts for July, 8:30 a.m.; Labor Department releases Consumer Price Index for July, 8:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 20

WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve releases minutes from its July interest-rate meeting.

THURSDAY, Aug. 21

WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.; ; Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates, 10 a.m.; National Association of Realtors releases existing home sales for July, 10 a.m.; Conference Board releases leading indicators for July, 10 a.m.

MONDAY, Aug. 25

WASHINGTON — Commerce Department releases new home sales for July, 10 a.m.

BERLIN — Germany’s Ifo institute releases its monthly business confidence index, a key indicator for Europe’s biggest economy.

TUESDAY, Aug. 26

WASHINGTON — Commerce Department releases durable goods for July, 8:30 a.m.; Standard & Poor’s releases S&P/Case-Shiller index of home prices for June and the second quarter, 9 a.m.; The Conference Board releases the Consumer Confidence Index for August, 10 a.m.

THURSDAY, Aug. 28

WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.; Commerce Department releases second-quarter gross domestic product, 8:30 a.m.; Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates, 10 a.m.; National Association of Realtors releases pending home sales index for July, 10 a.m.

BERLIN — Germany’s Federal Labor Agency releases August unemployment figures for Europe’s biggest economy.

FRIDAY, Aug. 29

WASHINGTON — Commerce Department releases personal income and spending for July, 8:30 a.m.

–All times are Eastern

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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