Jun 07 U.S. employment picks up pace with 272,000 jobs added in May, sign of sustained economic health By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press Last month's strong job growth reflected the durability of America's consumer-driven economy. With the nation's households continuing their steady spending, many employers have had to keep hiring to meet their customer demand. Continue reading
May 31 A closely tracked inflation gauge rises at slowest pace this year By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press A price gauge closely tracked by the Federal Reserve cooled slightly last month, a sign that inflation may be easing after running high in the first three months of this year. Continue reading
May 29 Inflation pressures lingering from pandemic may keep Feds from lowering interest rates By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press Though Fed officials say they expect inflation in key areas to eventually cool, they've signaled that they're prepared to wait as long as it takes. Continue reading
May 27 How inflation-weary shoppers can find summer deals at major retailers By Anne D'Innocenzio, Associated Press The reductions, which mostly involve groceries, are getting introduced as inflation showed its first sign of easing this year but not enough for consumers who are struggling to pay for basic necessities. Continue reading
May 24 Watch 5:14 British pubs struggle to survive as drinkers stay home By Malcolm Brabant A historic bicentennial anniversary is upon us. The humble pint is now 200 years old. That staple measurement of bar life was first introduced in 1824 to placate British drinkers who claimed taverns were cheating them of precious ale. Now… Continue watching
May 23 Average U.S. vehicle age hits record 12.6 years as high prices force people to keep them longer By Tom Krisher, Associated Press A study published Wednesday says U.S. vehicles hit a record average age of 12.6 years in 2024 as people hang on to their rides largely because new ones cost so much. Continue reading
May 17 Watch 4:19 What's behind the historic stock market highs and how it relates to the overall economy By Geoff Bennett, Diane Lincoln Estes This has been a big week for the stock market. The Dow Jones, the much broader S&P 500 and the NASDAQ all reached record highs with the Dow crossing the 40,000 threshold for the first time. The markets have rallied… Continue watching
May 15 Watch 4:23 Inflation cools but rising prices still dominate Americans' view of economy By Paul Solman, Diane Lincoln Estes Inflation cooled somewhat in April, according to new numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The consumer price index rose at an annual rate of 3.4 percent, in line with expectations. But overall, inflation hasn't yet come down quite to… Continue watching
May 15 U.S. inflation ticked down slightly last month in the first drop of 2024 By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press A measure of underlying inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, also eased in April. Continue reading
May 14 Federal Reserve Chair Powell downplays potential for a rate hike despite higher price pressures By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday that the central bank is unlikely to raise its key interest rate in response to signs of stubborn inflation and underscored his view that price increases would soon start to cool again. Continue reading