U.S. consumers more confident as holiday shopping season peaks
Americans’ expectations of a recession in the next 12 months have declined to the lowest level so far this year.
Economy
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Retail sales rose 0.3% in November as Americans hit gas on spending
The strong retail numbers Thursday were particularly surprising given some of the news coming from major retailers themselves, who say shoppers are being more selective.
Dow Jones hits an all-time high as investors cheer progress on inflation
The markets have been on a celebratory tear in recent weeks, as signs pile up that the Federal Reserve may be done raising interest rates.
Federal Reserve keeps key interest rate unchanged, foresees three rate cuts next year
The Fed’s quarterly economic projections showed that its officials envision a “soft landing” for the economy, in which inflation would continue its decline toward the central bank’s 2% target without causing a steep downturn.
Wholesale inflation slowed last month, signaling that price pressures continue to ease
Wednesday’s report reinforced the belief that inflation pressures are cooling across the economy.
Chamber: Indiana not improving as quickly as other states
A new report from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce says Indiana is making good progress toward its economic goals, but that progress isn’t coming fast enough to compete with other states.
Fed might shed light on prospects for rate cuts in 2024
When its latest policy meeting ends Wednesday, the Federal Reserve is likely to provide some highly anticipated hints about the extent of rate cuts next year.
Consumer inflation eased slightly last month, but some costs kept surging
The latest data on consumer inflation showed that prices in some areas—services such as rents, restaurants and auto insurance—continued to rise uncomfortably fast.
Inflation likely cooled again in November, but not in all areas of economy
Tuesday’s inflation report from the Labor Department is expected to show that businesses kept overall prices unchanged for a second straight month. But a closely watched category called “core prices” is predicted to outpace the Federal Reserve’s 2% annual target.
Is economy on track for soft landing? Jobs report might offer clues.
The November jobs report from the Labor Department is expected to show that employers added a still-solid 172,500 jobs last month, according to a survey of economists by FactSet.
Big bank CEOs warn that new regulations might severely impact economy
The heads of the nation’s biggest banks told Congress there are reasons to be concerned about the health of U.S. consumers—particularly poor and low-income borrowers.
U.S. job openings fall to lowest level since March 2021 as labor market cools
The unemployment rate has come in below 4% for 21 straight months, the longest such streak since the 1960s.
Biz economists predict cooling inflation, recession avoidance
Only 24% of economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics said they see a recession in 2024 as more likely than not.
Economy slowed in recent weeks with inflation, labor cooling
The figures are consistent with expectations that the economy will moderate in the fourth quarter following the strongest growth pace in nearly two years.
U.S. economy grew 5.2% in third quarter, more than first estimated
Even with the downward revision, consumer spending remained robust, underpinned by a resilient jobs market and a flurry of travel and events.
Retailers offer bigger Black Friday discounts to lure hesitant shoppers hunting for the best deals
Many retailers ordered fewer goods for this holiday season and pushed holiday sales earlier in October than last year to help shoppers spread out their spending.
U.S. unemployment claims drop in another sign of labor market resiliency
The claims are viewed as a proxy for layoffs and remain extraordinarily low by historical standards, signalling that most Americans enjoy unusual job security.
Black Friday: Inside its evolution and how it changed holiday spending
The National Retail Federation projects that an estimated 182 million people are planning to shop in-stores and online through the five-day Thanksgiving weekend.
Why do Americans feel gloomy about the economy despite falling inflation, low unemployment?
Many factors lie behind the disconnect, but economists increasingly point to one in particular: The lingering financial and psychological effects of the worst bout of inflation in four decades.
Inflation eased in October in latest sign of cooling economy
The latest monthly report offers a dose of encouragement as the Federal Reserve looks for enough progress to let up on its fight to tame consumer prices and slow the economy.