U.S. consumer confidence slips amid stubborn inflation
President Joe Biden will meet with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Tuesday as soaring inflation continues to carve up Americans’ earnings.
Economy
Articles
Analysis: U.S. policymakers misjudged inflation threat until it was too late
Prices for just about everything Americans buy have spiked in the past two years. Inflation, which had been scarcely noticeable for decades, is suddenly the top concern most people have about the economy. And it all seemed to catch Washington, D.C., by surprise.
Indiana Global Economic Summit updates: Former Google CEO: Losing to China ‘is not an option’
More than 800 business and government leaders from 30-some countries are in Indianapolis this week for the inaugural Indiana Global Economic Summit. Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. are using the event to showcase the state as a place for development and innovation. Check back here for updates.
Key inflation gauge slowed to still-high 6.3% over past year
High inflation appears to be forcing consumers, on average, to save less. The savings rate fell to 4.4% last month, the lowest level since 2008.
With Indianapolis 500 at full throttle, business is booming again
Locals don’t need studies to reinforce what they already know—this month is revving up to be the best fiscal May since the 100th running of the race in 2016.
Congressional Budget Office says inflation to last into 2023
The nonpartisan agency expects the consumer price index to rise 6.1% this year and 3.1% in 2023, above a long-term baseline of 2.3%.
Fed officials signal rates might head to ‘restrictive’ levels
Federal Reserve officials agreed when they met earlier this month that they may have to raise interest rates to levels that would weaken the economy as part of their drive to curb inflation, which is near a four-decade high.
Poll: U.S. economy bigger priority than punishing Russia
While broad support for U.S. sanctions has not faltered, the balance of opinion on prioritizing sanctions over the economy has shifted, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
U.S. might be barreling toward recession in next year, more experts say
Although major swaths of the economy—including the job market and consumer spending—remain robust, there are mounting worries that rising borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, after years of near-zero interest rates, could cause a sudden retrenchment.
Americans collecting unemployment benefits hit 53-year low
American workers are enjoying historically strong job security two years after the coronavirus pandemic plunged the economy into a short but devastating recession.
Retail sales rise 0.9% as consumers show resilience
Consumers are providing critical support to the economy even after a year of seeing prices spiral higher for gas, food, rent, and other necessities.
Bezos spars with Biden White House over inflation
The White House responded by pointing out that Jeff Bezos’ attacks emerged days after Biden met in the Oval Office with the labor leaders behind Amazon’s unionization drive, which the company has vehemently opposed.
U.S. inflation hit 8.3% last month, down slightly from 40-year high
Still, Wednesday’s report contained some cautionary signs that inflation may be becoming more entrenched. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, so-called core prices jumped 0.6% from March to April—twice the 0.3% rise from February to March.
High inflation leaves food banks struggling to meet needs
Food banks across America say negative economic conditions are intensifying demand for their support at a time when their labor and distribution costs are climbing and donations are slowing.
Fed: Inflation, Ukraine biggest threats to financial system
The observations came in the Federal Reserve’s semiannual Financial Stability Report that looks at trends in trading and investing as well as broad economic issues.
Dollar surges to 2-decade high as investors seek refuge
Rising inflation that has caused the biggest jump in prices in 40 years has spurred the Federal Reserve to aggressively raise interest rates, which increases demand for U.S. dollars.
Here’s how higher Fed rates stand to affect Americans’ finances
Economists and investors foresee the fastest pace of Federal Reserve rate increases since 1989. The result could be much higher borrowing costs for households well into the future.
Economic outlook for agricultural economy mixed
Sentiment of the agricultural economy among farmers ticked higher in April, but they are still showing less confidence than they did a year ago, according to the monthly Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.
U.S. employers post record employment openings, job quits
Employers posted 11.5 million job openings in March, more evidence of a tight labor market that has emboldened millions of American workers to seek better paying jobs and contributed to the biggest surge in inflation in four decades.
Key inflation gauge jumped 6.6% in March, most since 1982
Yet, there were signs in Friday’s report from the Commerce Department that inflation might be slowing from its galloping pace and perhaps nearing a peak, at least for now.