Federal Reserve officials agree on a March rate hike but little else
A worsening inflation picture has touched off a range of opinions from the Federal Reserve’s policymakers about just how fast they should raise interest rates.
Inflation
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U.S. inflation jumped 7.5% over past year, a 40-year high
The acceleration of prices ranged across the economy, from food and furniture to apartment rents, airline fares and electricity.
Inflation has Fed critics pointing to spike in money supply
The persistence of inflation, now running at an annual rate of 7%, has provided ammunition to conservative critics of the central bank known as “monetarists” for their adherence to the writings of economist Milton Friedman.
Key inflation gauge rose 5.8% in 2021, most in 39 years
The report Friday from the Commerce Department also said that consumer spending fell 0.6% in December, with purchases of cars, electronics, and clothes declining.
Fed plans to raise rates starting in March to cool inflation
With high inflation squeezing consumers and businesses and unemployment falling steadily, the Fed also said it would phase out its monthly bond purchases, which have been intended to lower longer-term rates, in March.
Target CEO expects fewer store trips as shoppers confront inflation
Target’s top executive said U.S. consumers will drive less and consolidate their shopping into fewer trips as they adjust to pricier gasoline and the highest inflation rate in almost four decades.
U.S. inflation soared 7% over past year in biggest jump since 1982
Rising prices have wiped out the healthy pay increases that many Americans have been receiving, making it harder for households, especially lower-income families, to afford basic expenses.
Fed’s Powell: Inflation poses major threat to job market
Fed officials now expect to raise short-term interest rates three times this year, a sharp shift from September, when they were divided over doing it even once. Economists increasingly expect them to raise rates at least four times in 2022.
Question for Fed: Has it waited too long to fight inflation?
On Wednesday, the government is expected to report that consumer prices jumped 7.1% over the past 12 months, which would be the steepest such increase in decades.
U.S. economy grew at 2.3% in third quarter, up from earlier estimate
But prospects for a solid rebound going forward are being clouded by the rapid spread of the latest variant of the coronavirus.
Inflation squeezes holiday budgets for low-income shoppers
The government’s report last week that consumer prices jumped 6.8% over the past year showed that some of the largest cost spikes have been for such necessities as food, energy, housing, autos and clothing.
Federal Reserve to tighten credit faster, sees three rate hikes in 2022
The Fed’s policy change does carry risks. Raising borrowing costs too fast could stifle consumer and business spending. That, in turn, would weaken the economy and likely raise unemployment.
Wholesale inflation jumps record 9.6% over past 12 months
The increase in wholesale prices was widespread, led by a 1.2% increase in the cost of goods and a 0.7% rise in the price of services.
Surging inflation forcing people, businesses to adapt
Across the United States, in homes and in businesses, the highest inflation in a generation is heightening financial pressures and forcing people to adapt to a new reality.
U.S. consumer inflation up 6.8% in past year, most since 1982
The Labor Department also reported Friday that prices rose 0.8% from October to November—a substantial increase, though slightly less than 0.9% increase from September to October.
Poll: Incomes are up, but Americans focus on inflation
Most people say the sharply higher prices for goods and services in recent months have had at least a minor effect on their financial lives, including about 4 in 10 who say the hit has been substantial.
Survey: Business economists foresee persistent inflation
The nation’s business economists have sharply raised their forecasts for inflation, predicting an extension of the price spikes that have resulted in large part from bottlenecked supply chains.
Powell says Fed might accelerate pullback in economic support
Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday that the Federal Reserve will consider acting more quickly to dial back its ultra-low-interest rate policies to counter higher inflation. His remarks quickly accelerated losses on Wall Street.
Consumer spending rebounds despite rising October inflation
U.S. consumer spending rebounded in October, rising by a a solid 1.3% despite rising inflation that over the past year has reached the fastest pace in more than three decades.
U.S. GDP slowed sharply in Q3, but big rebound expected in Q4
The expectation is that the economy in the current October-December quarter could grow at the strongest pace this year, with some economists forecast GDP could surge to an 8% rate in the fourth quarter.