U.S. consumer prices show modest monthly increase
Consumer prices increased at 0.2 percent pace in February, underscoring that inflation pressures appear to be muted for now.
Inflation
Articles
Is U.S. economic recovery nearing its end after 8 years?
The chief investment strategist for Fifth Third Bank says the economy is in the seventh inning of its recovery, which is "good news." But headwinds in the labor market could be limiting the potential for growth.
‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ to cost a tad more this year
The prices for nine of the 12 gifts listed in the holiday carol stayed the same or became cheaper this year, according to the 33rd annual PNC Wealth Management Christmas Price Index released Thursday.
Growth in Hoosier wages lagging inflation
Pay raises were a pipe dream for many Hoosiers last year—as the median wage in Indiana inched up 0.8 percent, to $31,990, according to federal data released this month.
’12 Days of Christmas’ items top $114,000
The price of lords-a-leaping and ladies dancing has spiked this holiday season, but other items mentioned in the carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas" still cost the same as they did last year.
Items in ’12 Days of Christmas’ increase to $107,000
If you get buy all 364 items repeated throughout “The Twelve Days of Christmas” carol, you’ll pay 6.1 percent more this year, according to the so-called Christmas Price Index that PNC Wealth Management updates annually.
Bernanke: Economy growing much too slowly to put people back to work
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told a local lunch crowd that he expects the economy to keep growing, but he said the growth is so slow that it could create a "permanent group" of underemployed Americans.
Rising gas prices put a crimp in Americans’ spending
The Federal Reserve this week took steps to boost economic growth. But those stimulus measures are also pushing oil prices up. If gas prices follow, consumers will have less money to spend elsewhere.
Cost of Thanksgiving meal jumps 13 percent on food inflation
The cost of a Thanksgiving dinner in the U.S. will jump 13 percent this year, the biggest gain in two decades, as prices rose for everything from turkey to green peas to milk, the American Farm Bureau Federation said.
Economy growing at slowest pace since recession
The economy expanded at a meager 1.3-percent annual rate in the spring after scarcely growing at all in the first three months of the year, the Commerce Department said Friday. The combined growth for the first six months of the year was the weakest since the recession ended two years ago.
HICKS: Inflation delays visit, but it’ll arrive eventually
All economists know that, at its core, inflation is caused solely by too much money chasing too few goods.
Cost of ’12 Days of Christmas’ items soars 10.8 percent
Trying to buy the items repeated in the song’s verses would cost $96,824—10.8 percent more than last year due to rising gold prices and higher pay for nine dancing ladies.
Consumer spending, personal incomes stagnant
Personal spending was unchanged in June, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. It was the third straight month of lackluster
consumer demand. Incomes were also flat, the weakest showing in nine months.
Indianapolis law firms raising rates again
Recession's over. Time for law firms to get cracking on raising rates again. As was the case before the recession, the
increases are outstripping inflation.
HICKS: Courage will be necessary to curb inflation
Inflation causes lenders to raise interest rates. Businesses slow their borrowing, produce less and require fewer workers. Within a year or so, inflation becomes everyoneâ??s problem.
Weather blamed for unexpected rise in jobless claims
New claims for unemployment benefits jumped unexpectedly last week, mostly because state agencies processed a backlog of
claims caused by snowstorms the previous week.
Go west (to Hendricks County)
The economy is as good or better in Hendricks County than anywhere else in the Indianapolis area.
Productivity surges 8.1 percent, most in 6 years
The U. S. Commerce Department said productivity rose at an annual rate of 8.1 percent in the third quarter, the biggest jump
since 2003.
Top local money managers hedge against stagflation
Faced with the potential for another bout with stagflation, investment managers are scrambling to decide how to face a future when markets may again be thrown into turmoil by the two-headed monster of frisky price increases and crummy economic conditions.
Some observers fear return of rising prices, stagnant growth
In the 1970s, stagflation—the unprecedented combination of stagnant economic growth and inflation—threatened to ruin financial institutions. Now some fear it might make a return.