Personal Finance Daily: Don't expect a big raise next year

	Personal Finance Daily SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 Thursday's Personal Finance Stories By MarketWatch Don't miss these top stories: You won't get much of a pay raise in 2013 What Romney should have said Mortgage fees could go up in five states The richest and poorest U.S. cities by income Don't expect a healthy raise next year, as firms expect to only raise paychecks an average 2.9% in 2013, Ruth Mantell writes today. While pay growth is expected to be low for years, freezing and cutting salaries are expected to be on the way down next year — the third annual drop. But if you're a top performer, you might be in for a bigger increase. Companies are focusing on merit increases, according to one of the reports Ruth cites in her On the Job column. Read more in today's Personal Finance pages, plus learn why mortgage fees could go up in five states and see a slide show of the richest and poorest U.S. cities by income. —Amy Hoak , Personal Finance writer You won't get much of a pay raise in 2013 Workers can expect a slim base-pay raise for 2013, up slightly from recent years, as the U.S. labor market continues its slow recovery, according to forecasts. You won't get much of a pay raise in 2013. Cut back on these coffee and beer stocks It may be time for investors to wean themselves off Starbucks and Samuel Adams, writes Jack Hough. Cut back on these coffee and beer stocks. Annuity investors face unwelcome surprises Under pressures related to the financial crisis and its aftermath, some of the companies that sell variable annuities are making their terms less generous — and many investors are learning that the "guarantee" of a guaranteed payment comes with a lot of caveats. Annuity investors face unwelcome surprises. Mortgage fees could go up in five states Borrowers in five states including New York and Florida may face additional mortgage fees based on a proposal released Thursday by a federal housing regulator. Mortgage fees could go up in five states. ECONOMY AND POLITICS The richest and poorest U.S. cities by income See the richest and poorest of the largest 25 U.S. cities by household income — San Jose and San Francisco at the top, Detroit and Philadelphia at the bottom. The richest and poorest U.S. cities by income. Household debt climbs at fastest rate in 4 years American households accumulated debt at the fastest rate in the second quarter in more than four years, and total domestic debt grew at the quickest rate in three-and-a-half years, according to data released Thursday showing an increased willingness to borrow. Household debt climbs at fastest rate in 4 years. Leading indicators tick lower in August U.S. economic growth is "unlikely to change much" in the near term, the Conference Board says, reporting that its index tracking leading economic indicators ticked down in August, although a longer-term trend remained positive. Leading indicators tick lower in August. U.S. jobless claims show little improvement Slighter fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, but there appeared to be no improvement in hiring trends across the nation. U.S. jobless claims show little improvement. Forces of factory decline trump Fed's easy money As factories around the world slow the machinery of production, central banks are putting their foot to the floor in an effort to pull the economy forward, writes Rex Nutting. The forces of decline are winning. Forces of factory decline trump Fed's easy money. What Romney should have said What Romney didn't say was that his policies might turn some of the 47% into taxpayers. What Romney should have said. INVESTING Monster losing energy, despite takeover juice In the financial world, the best form of gravy could be the words ''takeover target," writes Chuck Jaffe. Monster losing energy, despite takeover juice. Bank of America CEO just can't win No wonder no one wanted to run Bank of America Corp. Bank of America CEO just can't win. Tony Hayward seeks redemption in Small Oil Tony Hayward, the man in charge of oil firm BP during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. is getting his life back as the boss of Genel Energy, Shawn Langlois discovers. ony Hayward seeks redemption in Small Oil. New BlackBerry devices risk death on arrival Research In Motion is hosting a developer conference next week where it needs to convince attendees that its new devices and software coming out next year are worth waiting for, writes Therese Poletti. New BlackBerry devices risk death on arrival. 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