Dec 11 Speculation about eventual rate cuts is rising, but Fed is set to leave interest rates unchanged By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press With inflation edging closer to the Federal Reserve's 2 percent target, its policymakers are facing — and in some cases fueling — hopes that they will make a decisive shift in policy and cut interest rates next year, possibly as… Continue reading
Nov 14 Watch 4:07 News Wrap: Speaker Johnson endorses Trump in 2024 White House bid In our news wrap Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson officially endorsed former President Trump in his 2024 White House bid, Trump will stay on Michigan's presidential primary ballot after a judge rejected arguments he is ineligible, inflation eased in a… Continue watching
Nov 14 U.S. inflation cooled in October, driven lower by cheaper gas, cars and airfares By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press Tuesday's report from the Labor Department showed that prices either fell or rose only slowly across a broad range of goods and services, including gas, new and used cars, hotel rooms and housing. Continue reading
Nov 09 Powell reinforces the Federal Reserve’s cautious approach toward further interest rate hikes By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell suggested that the Fed is in no hurry to further raise its benchmark interest rate, given evidence that inflation pressures are continuing to ease at a gradual pace. Continue reading
Nov 01 WATCH: Jerome Powell holds briefing after Fed leaves key interest rate unchanged By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press At a news conference after the meeting, Chair Jerome Powell suggested that the Fed was edging ever closer to the end of its rate-hiking campaign. Continue reading
Oct 27 U.S. consumers keep spending even in the face of persistent inflation and high interest rates By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press An inflation gauge that is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve showed price increases remained elevated in September amid brisk consumer spending and strong economic growth. Continue reading
Oct 26 U.S. economy grows 4.9 percent, shrugging off interest rates and defying recession forecasts By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press The nation's economy expanded at a robust 4.9 percent annual rate from July through September as Americans defied higher prices, rising interest rates and widespread forecasts of a recession to spend at a brisk pace. Continue reading
Oct 12 September’s U.S. consumer inflation eased slightly as price pressures cool By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press Still, on a month-to-month basis, prices are still rising faster than is consistent with the Fed’s 2 percent target. Continue reading
Oct 09 2 Federal Reserve officials say spike in bond yields may allow central bank to leave rates alone By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press That's because a surge in long-term interest rates has made borrowing more expensive and could help cool inflation without further action by the central bank. Continue reading
Sep 25 Why the job market has weathered rising interest rates, grim economic forecasts By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press Inflation has tumbled from its peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 3.7% on the back of the Fed’s rate hikes. Yet the unemployment rate, at a still-low 3.8%, has scarcely budged. Continue reading