Retail sales rose solidly last month as consumers spent freely
The uptick reflects the economy’s resiliency despite a still challenging economic environment of still high prices and higher interest rates.
Economy
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Wholesale inflation in U.S. edged up in July from low levels
Wholesale prices in the United States picked up in July, yet the numbers still suggested that inflationary pressures have eased this year since reaching alarming heights in 2022.
Yearlong slowdown in inflation might have stalled in July
Thursday’s inflation data will be among the key metrics the Federal Reserve will consider in deciding whether to continue raising interest rates.
Inflation has steadily cooled, but hitting Fed’s target rate will be toughest mile
Squeezing out the last bit of excess inflation and reducing it to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target rate is expected to be a much harder and slower grind.
U.S. employers added fewer-than-expected 187,000 jobs in July
Despite the influx of workers, average hourly wages rose 0.4% from June and 4.4% from a year earlier—numbers that were hotter than expected and are likely to worry the Federal Reserve.
Price, wage increases slow further in latest signs of cooling inflation
Consumer prices rose in June at their slowest pace in more than two years and wage growth cooled last quarter.
U.S. economy unexpectedly accelerated to 2.4% growth rate in Q2
Driving last quarter’s growth was a burst of business investment, which surged at a 5.7% annual pace, the fastest rate since late 2021.
U.S. consumer confidence jumps to a two-year high as inflation eases
Tumbling inflation and sturdy hiring have raised hopes the Fed just might pull off a so-called soft landing—slowing the economy just enough to tame inflation without tipping the United States into recession.
U.S. retail sales edge higher as key metric shows resilient demand
Sales increased in seven out of 13 retail categories last month, including advances at non-store retailers, electronics stores and furniture outlets.
Purdue names well-known economist, Fed leader as first dean of Daniels School of Business
Jim Bullard has spent the last 15 years as president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, making him the longest-serving sitting president of a Federal Reserve bank.
U.S. wholesale prices for June point to further easing of inflation pressures
The government’s producer price index—which measures inflation before it reaches consumers—rose just 0.1% last month from June 2022, the smallest such increase since August 2020.
Inflation eased further in June as economy slowly cooled
A year after inflation soared to the highest level in four decades, price increases are returning closer to normal levels.
Monthly inflation report predicted to show lowest mark in two-plus years
The expected decline in overall inflation over the past 12 months would bring the figure much closer to the Fed’s 2% target and reflect the progress the central bank has made in slowing price acceleration.
U.S. hiring slows, but still shows signs of economy’s resilience
The June hiring figure reported by the government Friday is the smallest in 2-1/2 years. But it still points to a durable labor market that has produced a historically high number of advertised openings.
Student loan resumptions might be felt by retailers, restaurants
Just as the American economy is struggling with high inflation and interest rates, the coming resumption of student loan payments poses yet another potential challenge.
What’s Bidenomics? President now embracing term that foes use as slur
Only 34% of U.S. adults approve of President Joe Biden’s leadership on the economy, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs.
Inflation gauge tracked by the Federal Reserve falls to lowest point in 2 years
Last month’s progress in easing overall inflation was tempered by an elevated reading of “core” prices, a category that excludes volatile food and energy costs.
First-quarter U.S. economic growth revised up sharply
Despite the big increase, the government’s third and final report on January-March economic growth still marked a deceleration from the 2.6% annual rate from October through December and the 3.2% growth from July through September.
Belief that U.S. might avoid recession growing among economists
Analysts say a “rolling recession” and what they call a “richcession” could help the economy as a whole manage to avoid a full-fledged recession.
U.S. consumer confidence jumps to highest level since early 2022
The Conference Board said that consumers’ fears of a recession declined in June, with 69.3% of respondents saying a recession is somewhat or very likely in the next 12 months, down from 73.2% in May.