Higher gasoline prices lift Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge
Excluding volatile food and energy prices, “core” inflation rose by the smallest amount in nearly three years, evidence that inflation pressures continue to ease.
Inflation
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‘Excuseflation’ helping prices—and corporate profits—remain high
A growing body of analysts and researchers see a pattern of companies using unusual disruptions as an excuse to raise prices for their goods and services, thereby allowing them to expand profit margins.
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2022 Year in Review: A year of ups, downs and uncertainty
The stock market dropped in 2022. So did the unemployment rate. Except in Indiana, where in both cases, the numbers crept up.
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Amazon sellers see ‘scary’ holiday season as consumers pull back
Many merchants fear they’ll be forced to cut prices to move a mountain of unsold inventory. It’s an abrupt change from the previous two years when sellers scrambled to get enough products into Amazon warehouses to meet pandemic-fueled demand.
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Amazon to raise seller fees for holidays amid rising costs
It’s the second fee hike imposed on merchants this year by the online retail behemoth. In April, the company added a 5% “fuel and inflation” surcharge to offset rising gas costs and inflation.
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Articles
Why the U.S. job market has defied rising interest rates, expectations of high unemployment
Last year’s spike in inflation, to the highest level in four decades, was painful enough for American households. Yet the cure—much higher interest rates, to cool spending and hiring—was expected to bring even more pain.
Federal Reserve expected to leave its key interest rate unchanged
Further clues about the future path of the Fed’s interest rate policy could emerge at a news conference Wednesday after the central bank issues a policy statement and its quarterly economic projections.
Inflation nudged up again in August as gas prices rose rapidly
Gas costs drove inflation in August, rising 10.6 percent over the month and accounting for more than half of the increase over July. All other major energy categories rose as well.
Fed’s preferred inflation gauge shows modest rise in prices
The latest data follows other recent reports that suggest the economy and the job market may be slowing enough to cool inflation pressures.
Global inflation pressures could become harder to manage in coming years, research suggests
Rising trade barriers, aging populations and broad transition to renewable energy are trends that could make it harder for the Federal Reserve and other central banks to meet their inflation targets.
Powell: Economy’s solid growth could require additional Fed hikes to fight inflation
In a closely watched speech at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the economy has been growing faster than expected and consumers are spending briskly—trends that could keep inflation pressures high.
Fed minutes: Too-high inflation still a threat, could require more rate hikes
Most Federal Reserve officials last month still regarded high inflation as an ongoing problem that could require further interest rate increases, according to the minutes of their July 25-26 meeting released Wednesday.
Inflation is down, but Inflation Reduction Act doesn’t deserve credit, experts say
While price increases have cooled over the past year—the inflation rate has dropped from 9% to 3.2%—most economists say little to none of the drop came from the law.
Wholesale inflation in U.S. edged up in July from low levels
Wholesale prices in the United States picked up in July, yet the numbers still suggested that inflationary pressures have eased this year since reaching alarming heights in 2022.
Overall U.S. inflation edges up, but core number’s rise holds steady
Inflation in the United States edged up in July after 12 straight months of declines. But excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called core inflation matched the smallest monthly rise in nearly two years.
Yearlong slowdown in inflation might have stalled in July
Thursday’s inflation data will be among the key metrics the Federal Reserve will consider in deciding whether to continue raising interest rates.
Inflation has steadily cooled, but hitting Fed’s target rate will be toughest mile
Squeezing out the last bit of excess inflation and reducing it to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target rate is expected to be a much harder and slower grind.
U.S. employers added fewer-than-expected 187,000 jobs in July
Despite the influx of workers, average hourly wages rose 0.4% from June and 4.4% from a year earlier—numbers that were hotter than expected and are likely to worry the Federal Reserve.
Price, wage increases slow further in latest signs of cooling inflation
Consumer prices rose in June at their slowest pace in more than two years and wage growth cooled last quarter.
After raising prices sharply, corporate profits get squeezed as inflation eases
Many analysts believe margins hit bottom in the second quarter, and they’re forecasting a recovery in the second half. Others are less optimistic.
U.S. consumer confidence jumps to a two-year high as inflation eases
Tumbling inflation and sturdy hiring have raised hopes the Fed just might pull off a so-called soft landing—slowing the economy just enough to tame inflation without tipping the United States into recession.
U.S. wholesale prices for June point to further easing of inflation pressures
The government’s producer price index—which measures inflation before it reaches consumers—rose just 0.1% last month from June 2022, the smallest such increase since August 2020.
Inflation eased further in June as economy slowly cooled
A year after inflation soared to the highest level in four decades, price increases are returning closer to normal levels.
Monthly inflation report predicted to show lowest mark in two-plus years
The expected decline in overall inflation over the past 12 months would bring the figure much closer to the Fed’s 2% target and reflect the progress the central bank has made in slowing price acceleration.