Markets posted their strongest week since mid-April, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow all advancing sharply as investors digested the final wave of Q2 earnings. A surprise contraction in July payrolls arrived Friday, sparking a rally as traders bet the softer labor data could shape the Fed's next move on rates. This week brings key data on inflation and retail sales, along with earnings from Cisco and Applied Materials, that should offer more clarity on where the economy stands.

Markets were mixed in July as investors weighed inflation, economic growth, corporate earnings, and AI investment. The Dow edged higher, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq declined. As August begins, investors will be watching economic data and Federal Reserve policy for signs of what lies ahead.

Most retirees plan for Medicare premiums and prescription coverage—but a few costs tend to slip through the cracks. Fidelity puts average lifetime healthcare spending for a retired couple at roughly $330,000, not counting extended care, and new Medicare Part D rules cap drug costs at $2,000 a year only for medications on your plan's covered list. Add in the healthcare-access tradeoffs of a rural retirement move or the growing appeal of concierge medicine, and the real cost of retirement healthcare starts looking a lot bigger than the basics.

Stocks ended the week higher despite sharp swings driven by mixed second-quarter earnings and the Federal Reserve's decision to leave interest rates unchanged. Technology shares rebounded after early weakness, while investors continued to weigh inflation concerns and the outlook for interest rates. Read this week's Week on Wall Street for a recap of the market's key drivers, the latest Fed developments, upcoming economic reports, and the earnings calendar for the week ahead.