inflation

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Productivity Up, But Inflation Still Looms

Escalating cost of labor helps drag down growing economy

(Newser) - US productivity increased last quarter, but analysts are still worried about the economy’s ability to grow while keeping inflation at bay. Nonfarm business productivity rose by 1.8%, beating the first quarter’s rate of 0.7%, but the government was forced to lower productivity estimates for previous years,...

Jobless Rate Rises While GDP Rebounds

Economic growth balances looming threat of inflation

(Newser) - The unemployment rate increased slightly in the second quarter, but the GDP recovered after a lackluster first quarter, providing Wall Street with a mixed report card of the nation’s economy as the Fed meets to determine interest rates. Unemployment ticked up 0.1% to 4.6%, hastened by losses...

Snubbing the West, Bolivia Waxes Red

Country turns to Chávez, socialism, in lieu of IMF cash

(Newser) - Bolivia’s populist president is traveling his country handing out aid—straight from his anti-American neighbor Hugo Chávez. The Washington Post reports that Evo Morales has been taking more than a cue from Chávez, using the Venezuelan leader's cash to fund social welfare programs and build clinics and...

Price Cuts Ruin Zimbabwe's Economy
Price Cuts Ruin Zimbabwe's Economy
Aug 2, 2007 10:53 AM CDT

Price Cuts Ruin Zimbabwe's Economy

Mugabe's radical 'solution' to spiraling inflation backfires

(Newser) - A radical attempt to curb Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation by cutting prices up to 50% has backfired on President Robert Mugabe's government, which is now teetering on the brink of collapse, the New York Times reports. Store shelves are empty; bread, sugar, and cornmeal, the staples of Zimbabwean's diet, are depleted.

Consumer Confidence Rises
Consumer Confidence Rises
Jul 31, 2007 4:18 PM CDT

Consumer Confidence Rises

Shoppers buying again after June slump

(Newser) - Consumer spending rose more than expected this month, to its highest level in 6 years, after shoppers tightened their belts in June, Bloomberg reports. Consumer confidence jumped 7.3 points according to a Conference Board index, suggesting the slump was temporary. Economists chalk up the spending jump to low unemployment...

5 Reasons to Think Bearish
5 Reasons to Think Bearish
Jul 22, 2007 8:29 AM CDT

5 Reasons to Think Bearish

Despite record growth, Wall Street has plenty of cause for concern, Business Week says

(Newser) - Wall Street is giddy with low unemployment, optimistic earnings predictions, and a resilient economy, but BusinessWeek lists five things for investors to worry about.
  1. Volatility in earnings, especially tech companies
  2. Consumer spending, as gas prices take their toll
  3. Inflation, which could prompt the fed to raise interest rates
  4. Subprime aftereffects,
...

Zimbabwe Arrests Dozens in Price Wars

Businesses flout strict cost-control laws as inflation passes 3,700%

(Newser) - Police in Zimbabwe have arrested 1,328 businesspeople, including 33 top executives, for violating official price controls installed to curb uncontrollable currency devaluation. The new regulations demand that many goods' prices be cut in half in response to inflation that has now risen to more than 3,700%.

Stock Sell-Off Rings Out 2nd Quarter

Markets dip, inflation cools, oil prices soar as Fed plays wait-and-see

(Newser) - Stocks slipped slightly today as the tumultuous second quarter ended in a cloud of uncertainty and contradictory economic reports. The Dow fell 13.66 to close at 13,408.62, up over 1,000 points since April, after an early surge in response to optimistic inflation and construction-spending reports. But...

CPI Registers Spring Spike
CPI Registers Spring Spike
Jun 15, 2007 11:06 AM CDT

CPI Registers Spring Spike

Energy, food drive big May bump in consumer spending as core inflation stays cool

(Newser) - The consumer price index jumped 0.7% in May, riding high energy prices to its second-biggest spike in 16 years. But the volatile food and energy sectors appeared not to disrupt the rest of the economy, MarketWatch reports. The core CPI, which excludes food and gas prices, rose only 0....

Collapse Looms in Zimbabwe
Collapse Looms in Zimbabwe
Jun 14, 2007 9:56 AM CDT

Collapse Looms in Zimbabwe

Economy may dissolve within six months as inflation spirals

(Newser) - Zimbabwe could suffer a full structural collapse in the next few months, the BBC reports. According to a memo distributed to aid workers, shops may resort to barter and utilities may shut down entirely in the country, on account of unbridled inflation that's already the world's highest at 3,714%.

Paulson Resists Labeling China a 'Manipulator'

Congress stews as Beijing keeps yuan weak vs. dollar

(Newser) - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has denied congressional requests for a formal accusation of currency manipulation against China, the Wall Street Journal reports. China's tight restrictions have kept the yuan artificially low against the dollar for decades, but recent record highs, combined with signs that Beijing may plan to let up...

Chinese Pork Prices Soar
Chinese Pork Prices Soar
Jun 8, 2007 8:23 AM CDT

Chinese Pork Prices Soar

Rise triggers inflation, which reverberates around the world

(Newser) - This price of pigs and pork in China has skyrocketed this year, nudging up domestic inflation and triggering worries about a domino effect in worldwide markets. The government is scrambling to react to pressure on the price of the vital commodity, the Times reports, even weighing the possibility of releasing...

Inflation-Free Growth Is Too Good to Last

Inflation and higher interest rates could cool world markets

(Newser) - Globalization and access to low-cost labor has allowed the world economy to grow without high inflation, but this economist's dream may soon end, the Wall Street Journal predicts in a cautionary report. Demand for everything from workers to lumber is increasing, raising prices—and the prospect of higher inflation.

Inflation Cools, Heats Wall Street
Inflation Cools, Heats Wall Street
May 15, 2007 1:48 PM CDT

Inflation Cools, Heats Wall Street

But gas prices, at record highs, still worrisome

(Newser) - The core consumer price index stayed steady last month, rising just 0.2% and cooling worries about inflation. The overall CPI, which responds to fluctuating food and energy costs, climbed 0.4%, still well within the comfort zone. That's good news for the Fed, which held interest rates steady last...

Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady
Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady
May 9, 2007 2:26 PM CDT

Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady

Unanimous vote seeks to stave off inflation

(Newser) - The Fed held the benchmark interest rate steady at 5.25% today in an unsurprising statement that prompted little reaction from the market. The unanimous vote reflects concerns about a faltering housing market, slowed growth, and persistent fears about core inflation, which the Fed continues to consider "somewhat elevated....

Economy Slumps to 4-Year Low
Economy Slumps to 4-Year Low
Apr 27, 2007 11:11 AM CDT

Economy Slumps to 4-Year Low

Weak home sales, high oil prices drive slowdown

(Newser) - The country's economic growth has dwindled to its lowest rate in four years, with the housing slowdown, high energy prices, and a looming trade deficit driving lower-than-expected numbers released today. The economy grew 1.3% in the first quarter of 2007, down from 2.5% in the last three months...

Dollar Gets Pounded
Dollar Gets Pounded
Apr 18, 2007 11:53 AM CDT

Dollar Gets Pounded

As the pound passes $2, Brits expected to flock to U.S.

(Newser) - The British pound hit a 26-year-high against the dollar this morning, triggering inflationary fears there as it pushed past $2 for the first time since Margaret Thatcher's early reign. As  inflation figures spiked to 3.1% in March—the highest  in 10 years—the middle class got hit the hardest,...

Bernanke Keeps Interest Rate Steady
Bernanke Keeps Interest Rate Steady
Mar 29, 2007 8:15 AM CDT

Bernanke Keeps Interest Rate Steady

Sees housing crisis as risk, but doesn't see recession

(Newser) - With inflation creeping up, Fed chairman Ben Bernanke will keep interest rates steady—at least for now, reports the Wall Street Journal. Soft business investment and weakening housing are becoming serious risks, but the long-term outlook is good, Bernanke told Congress yesterday. "The current stance of monetary policy is...

Bernanke Buoys Dow
Bernanke Buoys Dow
Mar 6, 2007 11:04 AM CST

Bernanke Buoys Dow

Global markets continue to fall

(Newser) - U.S. stock prices rebounded yesterday, buoyed by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's forecast of moderate growth. But averages from Singapore to London continued to slide and there was widespread debate over whether the plunge was the market correcting for inflated highs or if it was the first sign of a...

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