Inflation gauge tracked by the Fed slows to still-high 6%
The report also showed that consumers spent more in October, even after adjusting for inflation, a sign of their continued willingness to keep spending in the face of high prices.
The report also showed that consumers spent more in October, even after adjusting for inflation, a sign of their continued willingness to keep spending in the face of high prices.
Wednesday’s government report showed that the restoration of growth in the July-September period was led by solid gains in exports and consumer spending that was stronger than originally reported.
The Federal Reserve is closely monitoring the figures on job openings and quits for signals about the strength of the job market.
A rising number of households are stepping up their use of credit cards—or “buy now, pay later” plans—to keep up with higher prices.
The data suggest companies are largely adhering to capital spending plans as they seek to improve productivity and help counter lingering cost pressures.
The retailer voiced caution about its sales and profit during the fourth quarter because customers have been waiting for sales rather than buying goods at full price, and finding ways to cut down on spending in other ways as well.
Speaking at an IBJ economic forecast event Monday, a Fifth Third Bank economist said the chance of heading into another recession is “literally a toss-up, a coin flip.”
The annual Business Outlook forecast from Indiana University Kelley School of Business, released Thursday, says predictions are tougher than usual to make due to aggressive increasing of interest rates by the Federal Reserve.
U.S. service providers expanded in October at the slowest pace since May 2020 as orders growth and business activity moderated, suggesting the broader economy continues to cool.
Ten manufacturing industries reported a contraction in October, led by furniture, wood products, paper products and textiles. Eight industries expanded.
U.S. job openings rose unexpectedly in September, suggesting that the American labor market is not cooling as fast as the inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve hoped.
A measure of inflation that is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve remained painfully high last month, the latest sign that prices for most goods and services in the United States are still rising steadily.
The Seattle-based e-commerce behemoth’s weak forecast for the fourth quarter indicates that it expects things to get tougher.
The U.S. economy grew at a better-than-expected annual rate from July through September, snapping two straight quarters of economic contraction and overcoming punishingly high inflation and interest rates.
Most economists expect Americans to keep spending at a relatively lackluster pace through the end of the year. Overall uncertainty about consumer spending is weighing on a range of companies.
The report stresses how high inflation has broadened across the economy, eroding Americans’ paychecks and forcing many to rely on savings and credit cards to keep up.
After struggling with product shortages for much of the pandemic, the country’s retailers are now facing an unprecedented glut of unsold merchandise that’s cutting into profits, derailing holiday plans and threatening to drag down broader U.S. economic growth.
When the dollar is strong, a U.S.-based company that sells products overseas earns fewer dollars. On the flip side, the cost of imported goods and foreign expenses are lower.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation and worsening climate conditions are impacting world economies and exacerbating other crises, like food insecurity and high debt levels held by lower-income countries.
The alliance of oil-exporting countries on Wednesday decided to sharply cut production to support sagging oil prices, a move that could deal the struggling global economy another blow and raise politically sensitive pump prices for U.S. drivers just ahead of elections.