Americans increased retail spending tepidly last month
U.S. shoppers stepped up their spending just a bit in February after a sharp pullback the previous month
Economy
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Trump doubles planned tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum to 50%
The U.S. stock market promptly fell following his social media post, triggering more concerns after a brutal selloff on Monday.
Job openings rose to 7.7M in January
The Labor Department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey showed that openings rose in real estate, health care, manufacturing and construction.
Stocks’ sell-off worsens as Wall Street wonders how much pain Trump will accept for the economy
It was the worst day yet in a scary stretch where the S&P 500 has swung more than 1%, up or down, seven times in eight days.
Stock sell-off worsens as Wall Street wonders how much pain Trump will accept for economy
The worry is that the whipsaw moves will either hurt the economy directly or create enough uncertainty to drive U.S. companies and consumers into an economy-freezing paralysis.
Trump downplays business concerns about uncertainty from his tariffs and prospect of higher prices
On Wall Street, it was a tough week with wild swings dominated by worries about the economy and uncertainty about Trump’s tariffs.
Major retailers temper expectations for 2025
A pullback by American shoppers has led to more caution from national retailers about their sales potential in 2025.
Trump official floats new approach for measuring GDP, as economy shows signs of slowing
The Trump administration’s proposed shake-up comes when economists already have broader concerns about the quality of economic data.
Economic blackout: Will 24-hour boycott have an impact?
A grassroots organization is encouraging U.S. residents not to spend any money Friday as an act of “economic resistance.” The activist movement also plans to promote weeklong consumer boycotts of companies including Walmart and Amazon.
Second estimate of U.S. growth confirms 2.3% expansion in fourth quarter
The report showcases an economy that continued to expand at a solid pace on the shoulders of resilient consumer spending.
Inflation, looming trade war take toll as confidence of U.S. consumer tumbles
U.S. consumer confidence plummeted in February, the biggest monthly decline in more than four years, a business research group said Tuesday.
Weight-loss drugs aren’t just slimming waists. They’re shifting the economy.
Roughly 16 million people—that’s 6 percent of American adults—are taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, and that number is growing rapidly. Their collective purchasing power has the potential to profoundly reshape the economy.
Americans are down on the economy, but CEOs are full of optimism
Consumers are jittery, in part because of fears that new tariffs could worsen inflation. Executives, however, are hopeful about fewer regulations and are planning to boost investments.
Slightly more Americans apply for unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain relatively low
Some analysts say they expect layoffs ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency to show up in the report in the coming weeks.
U.S. Senate confirms financier Howard Lutnick as commerce secretary
At his confirmation hearing last month, Lutnick dismissed as “nonsense” the idea that tariffs contribute to inflation.
December wholesale prices rise more than expected
Year-over-year consumer price inflation has now risen for four straight months.
Inflation rose in January as prices for groceries, housing picked up
Wednesday’s data could strengthen the case for the Federal Reserve to remain in an extended pause mode while the economy is strong and inflation remains elevated.
U.S. employers add 143,000 jobs, jobless rate falls to 4%
Most Americans still enjoy unusual job security. But for those looking for work, the job hunt has been getting harder compared with the red-hot hiring days of 2021-2023.
U.S. manufacturing activity expands for first time since 2022
The surveys were conducted before President Donald Trump announced tariffs on imports that risk disrupting supply chains for American producers.
U.S. economy grew solid 2.3% during 4th quarter
Consumer spending grew at a 4.2% pace, fastest since January-March 2023. But business investment tumbled.