Market Performance: February 16, 2024.

US stocks closed lower on Friday after another hotter-than-expected inflation reading undermined the case for interest rate cuts.

The S&P 500 (^GSPC) dipped 0.5% in the wake of another record closing high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell 0.4%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) dropped 0.8%.

The Producer Price Index, a key gauge measuring wholesale inflation, jumped 0.3% in January from the prior month, compared with the 0.1% rise expected by economists.

The market was on a rollercoaster ride this week as a series of mixed data prompted investors to keep reassessing their view of the US economy, Federal Reserve policy thinking, and the timing of interest rate cuts.

Maximize Your Small Kitchen With These Budget-Friendly Ideas

From cooking and cleaning to enjoying meals with loved ones, we spend a lot of time in the kitchen — it's the heart of the home, after all.

While having a big, spacious kitchen is a dream for many homeowners, small kitchens can be just as functional when properly designed and organized. To help you make the most of your limited square footage, we rounded up small kitchen ideas that pack a lot of style.

Even if you're sticking to a tight budget, it's possible for small kitchens — even very small kitchens — to feel functional and stylish.

Tackle kitchen clutter by putting up shelves, hanging pots from the ceiling or bringing in a rolling cart. If you're dreaming up a major refresh, consider painting your cabinets a fresh shade (light colors make a small room pop) or install a tiny kitchen island that doubles as extra counter space.

Whether your kitchen design is modern, traditional or country, you'll find ways to infuse personality into small spaces. Try experimenting with checkerboard floors, layering in vintage accents or taking a kitchen backsplash all the way to the ceiling. Swap upper cabinets for open shelving (a great hack for galley kitchens) or go big with artwork (it can easily become the focal point).

Whether you live in an apartment, condo or your house is lacking kitchen space, you're sure to find design inspiration to steal.

How to make extra cash in your free time

Chances are that you've been feeling inflationary pressure recently. And, in turn, it may seem like your hard-earned dollars don't go as far as they once did. You aren't the only one feeling that, either. A recent CBS News poll shows that most Americans don't just feel the inflation — they don't believe their paychecks are keeping up with it. What can you do if you feel the negative impact of inflation on your bank account?

One solution is to make more money. That doesn't mean you have to apply for a second full-time job, though, or accept working for another boss at all. There are several ways you can make extra cash in your free time instead.

How to make extra cash in your free time

So, how do you turn your idle time into cash-generating opportunities? "There are several ways to make money in your free time," says Dawn-Marie Joseph, founder of Estate Planning & Preservation.

Complete paid surveys

In today's digital world, data is one of the most valuable commodities available — and companies are willing to pay to get it.

One way companies get the data they need is through surveys. One "simple way to make money in your free time is to take part in online surveys," says Joseph. "There are several surveys that will pay you to complete them."

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