consumer price index

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Inflation Report Is Better Than Expected

It cools off in October to 3.2%

(Newser) - The new inflation report is out, and it's likely to make the Federal Reserve pretty happy: It cooled down last month in a sign that the Fed's interest rate hikes are having the desired effect, per the AP .
  • Key numbers: Tuesday's report from the Labor Department showed
...

Gas Prices Drive Latest Inflation Increase

Labor Dept.'s new report is a mixed bag, with signs of continued cooling in consumer prices

(Newser) - A spike in gas prices pushed up inflation in August, yet most other costs rose at a more modest pace, evidence that consumer price increases overall are still cooling. In a set of conflicting data on Wednesday, the Labor Department said the consumer price index rose 3.7% in August...

Inflation Has Cooled. So Has This Social Security Estimate

Recipients may see 2024 cost-of-living adjustment of just 2.7%, down from this year's 8.7%

(Newser) - This year's Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, was the highest in four decades, coming in at 8.7% to account for record inflation. Beneficiaries shouldn't expect quite such a boost for 2024. According to new government data, the annual inflation rate fell in May to its lowest...

Inflation Continues to Cool in the US

But January's numbers still come in higher than expected

(Newser) - The closely watched consumer-price index is out, and the new numbers for January show that inflation continues to cool on an annual basis—though not by as much as analysts expected.
  • The rise: Consumer prices rose 0.5% in January, which translates to an annual inflation rate of 6.4%,
...

Inflation Surged 9.1% in June, Even More Than Expected

Economists were expecting a 40-year high of 8.8%

(Newser) - The consumer price index for June is worse than expected—and what was expected was bad. The CPI was up 9.1% year-over-year in June, above economists' prediction of 8.8%. Even that estimate was worse than May's 8.6%. The last time inflation was this high was in...

Sticker Shock at the Supermarket? You're Not Alone

Price of groceries just saw record-setting spike due to coronavirus pandemic

(Newser) - With most Americans sheltering at home as they wait out the coronavirus pandemic, you may have noticed that while your eating-out tab has gone down, your supermarket bill has gone up. It's not in your head: The monthly consumer price index has been released by the Bureau of Labor...

More Market Turmoil? Inflation Higher Than Expected

Investors may not be happy because it could lead to a hike in interest rates

(Newser) - Given the markets' recent volatility, investors were keeping a closer eye than usual on Wednesday's new inflation report—and they may not be thrilled with the data. The consumer price index showed that prices for everyday goods rose slightly higher than expected in January, reports the Wall Street Journal ...

'12 Days of Christmas' Gifts Will Cost You $97K

Gold prices push the cost of 5 rings to $650

(Newser) - If your true love gives you everything from 12 drummers drumming to a partridge in a pear tree this year, he or she will have shelled out $96,824. That’s up 10.8% from last year, the AP reports. High gold prices pushed the cost of five gold rings...

Dow Up 108 to 2009 High
 Dow Up 108 to 2009 High 
MARKETS

Dow Up 108 to 2009 High

GE, financials gain; Fed shows industrial activity up for August

(Newser) - Stocks rallied today, with all three major indices hitting their highest levels of the year, the Wall Street Journal reports. GE surged 5.69%, AmEx 3.06%, and BofA 2.80% on good data: Industrial production gained 0.8% in August, and the Labor Department’s consumer-price index rose 0....

Consumer Prices Take Biggest Dip in 59 Years

(Newser) - Consumer prices have fallen 2.1% over the past year, the biggest year-over-year decline in 59 years, the Labor Department announced today. Though the Consumer Price Index was unchanged from June to July, it was drastically lower than in July 2008, when oil peaked at $147 a barrel and gas...

Stocks Flat, and So Is Inflation
 Stocks Flat, and So Is Inflation 
MARKET open

Stocks Flat, and So Is Inflation

(Newser) - A pile of economic data couldn’t move stocks this morning. The Dow inched up 24 points, while the S&P and Nasdaq added 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. The Consumer Price Index was unchanged for April, the Labor Department announced, though Core CPI was up 0.3%. Factory...

Stock Rally Screeches to Halt
 Stock Rally Screeches to Halt 
MARKET Open

Stock Rally Screeches to Halt

(Newser) - Stocks took a turn for the worse at the open today, heading south after yesterday’s rally. The Dow fell 67 points, while the S&P declined 0.8%. The Nasdaq fell 0.5%, but component Sun Microsystems soared 65% on news IBM might acquire it. Investors are anxiously awaiting...

Dow Falls 427 to Below 8,000
 Dow Falls 427 to Below 8,000 
MARKETS

Dow Falls 427 to Below 8,000

Bad news in housing and predictions of recession sour stocks

(Newser) - Stocks plunged today on a spread of bad economic news, including signs that the housing market is not improving and dire predictions by the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate committee, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow fell 427.47 to close at 7,997.28. The Nasdaq lost 96.85,...

Consumers Squeezed, Spending Stalls
Consumers Squeezed, Spending Stalls

Consumers Squeezed, Spending Stalls

As prices rise, wages fall and unemployment jumps, spending growth has stalled

(Newser) - The current economic crisis is shaping up to be different than others Americans have weathered in the past 20 years in an important respect, the Washington Post reports: consumer spending, which the nation could always count on to propel the economy through, has stalled. Real spending, the catalyst behind 70%...

Inflation Hurts US Workers; Europeans Keep Pace

But higher Europe wages drive up prices

(Newser) - Workers in the US are falling behind inflation while their counterparts in the 15-nation Eurozone are keeping pace, in part because of more powerful unions, the Wall Street Journal reports. But rising wages may damage the European economies, as they deter companies from hiring and in turn boost inflation. When...

Stocks Rally on Dollar's Strength
 Stocks Rally on Dollar's Strength 
MARKETS

Stocks Rally on Dollar's Strength

Drop in oil, strong greenback pushes Dow to weekly gains

(Newser) - The markets rallied today, pushing the Dow into positive territory for the week, off a strong dollar and a drop in oil prices. The Dow gained 165.77 to close at 12,307.35, a weekly gain of 0.8%. The Nasdaq climbed 50.15 to 2,454.50 but...

Dow Hikes Prices 20% on Chemicals in Many Products

Chemical company rips feds for energy policy it blames for higher costs

(Newser) - Skyrocketing energy costs prompted Dow Chemical to bump prices up to 20% yesterday on compounds that are the building blocks for thousands of consumer products, fanning inflation fears. Dow, one of the world’s largest chemical companies, ripped Washington for an energy policy it says has raised its energy costs...

Consumer Prices Rise in March; Oil Blasts Past $114

Jump in energy, food costs outweighs cheaper clothes; new record for crude

(Newser) - Consumer prices rose an anticipated 0.3% in March, propelled by hikes in the costs of energy, food, and airline tickets; a commodities rush and weak dollar also pushed crude oil to a record high today. Energy costs rose 1.9% in March, the AP reports, and the past year...

Consumer Prices Flat in Feb.
 Consumer Prices Flat in Feb. 

Consumer Prices Flat in Feb.

Lack of increase means Fed has an open door to a big rate cute next week

(Newser) - Consumer prices were flat for February, pleasantly surprising economists who expected a 0.2% increase, reports the Wall Street Journal. This morning’s consumer price index eases concerns that inflation is accelerating as the economy slows, and it gives the Federal Reserve more reason to float a large interest rate...

Inflation Spikes, Cut in Jeopardy
Inflation Spikes, Cut in Jeopardy

Inflation Spikes, Cut in Jeopardy

Fed may have hands tied, as CPI soars past expectations

(Newser) - Core inflation bounded ahead of expectations in January, which is bad news for anyone betting on a big rate cut from the Fed–and for the Fed itself. The consumer price index rose 0.4%, with core CPI rising 0.3%, putting the year-over-year figures at 4.3% and 2....

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