inflation

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China Economy Adrift as Snow Keeps Falling

Inflation spirals as weather highlights precarious conditions

(Newser) - As more snow fell today across China, the unusual inclement weather continued to highlight how vulnerable the country's economy is to disruption. The snow has prevented deliveries of food and fuel—particularly coal—and dozens of factories remain closed. State television announced that the government would mount an "all-out...

Mugabe Foe Briefly Arrested Ahead of Rally

Zimbabwe opposition leader rounded up in nighttime raid

(Newser) - Robert Mugabe's main opponent was arrested in the middle of the night ahead of a planned rally today in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare, reports the Mail and Guardian. He was later released without charge. Police have banned Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change from holding a demonstration,...

Bernanke Backs Quick Bailout
Bernanke Backs Quick Bailout
Jan 17, 2008 10:50 AM CST

Bernanke Backs Quick Bailout

Fast, temporary stimulus would buoy flagging economy, Fed chief tells Congress

(Newser) - The country needs a federal stimulus package ASAP, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told the House Budget Committee today, advocating immediate legislation designed “so its effects on aggregate spending are felt as much as possible within the next 12 months.” But he said the package should be “...

Retail Sales In Surprise Swoon
Retail Sales In Surprise Swoon
Jan 15, 2008 8:42 AM CST

Retail Sales In Surprise Swoon

Sales drop 0.4% in Dec.; consumers finally slowed by housing woes, gas prices

(Newser) - Retail sales fell 0.4% in December, an unexpected drop that capped off retailers’ worst year since 2002 and is sure to fuel rampant recession fears. “Consumer spending slowed down pretty dramatically,” one economist tells Bloomberg. “We are kind of flying very close to a stall speed....

Bernanke Hints at Hefty Interest Rate Cuts

Fed hopes to thwart troubled markets, unemployment

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve may make "substantive" cuts to interest rates later this month in the face of rising economic difficulties, Ben Bernanke said today. Citing troubled financial markets and rising unemployment, the Fed chairman implied that it might drop its target short-term interest rate by .5% from 4.25%....

Goldman Predicts Recession
Goldman Predicts Recession
Jan 10, 2008 12:31 PM CST

Goldman Predicts Recession

Wall Street's top firm sees two unhappy quarters ahead

(Newser) - Goldman Sachs is predicting that the economy will slide into a recession this year—which has Wall Street worried, because Goldman’s been right about everything else. The investment firm forecasts a mild pullback extending over two quarters, driving up already-growing unemployment. “If we don't get job growth we...

Fed Remains Open to More Rate Cuts
Fed Remains Open to More Rate Cuts
Jan 2, 2008 7:33 PM CST

Fed Remains Open to More Rate Cuts

Minutes from last meeting display growing concern about markets

(Newser) - Fed officials will consider deeper rate cuts and a "substantial further easing of policy" if the turmoil in the credit and housing markets continues, according to minutes of last month's meeting. Officials displayed surprise at the extent of the housing crisis and acknowledged that market strains "could persist...

Iran's Prez Under Fire for Rising Inflation

Even Ahmadinejad's own party finds fault with his policies

(Newser) - Skyrocketing inflation in Iran is sparking criticism of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad—even from within his own conservative party, the AP reports. Prices for food and homes have surged in recent months. Ahmadinejad, who ran in 2005 on promises to use oil revenue to boost the economy, blames his predecessors for...

Stocks Climb After Rough Day
Stocks Climb After Rough Day
MARKETS
Dec 18, 2007 3:40 PM CST

Stocks Climb After Rough Day

Contrary instincts make for roller-coaster session

(Newser) - The market was up and down all day today as investors divided on whether to applaud cash injections and welcome good earnings reports or fret over bad housing numbers and inflation concerns. The Dow ultimately climbed 65.27 to 13,232.47, the Nasdaq added 21.57 to 2,596....

Global Food Prices Soar
Global Food Prices Soar
Dec 17, 2007 4:44 PM CST

Global Food Prices Soar

Wheat and rice futures reach new highs; costs sure to be passed on to consumers

(Newser) - Expect another surge in the cost of breakfast cereal: The benchmark price for wheat rose above $10 a bushel for the first time today, further fueling the inflation in global food costs that kicked in last summer. Benchmark prices for rice futures also hit a new high, and corn and...

Stocks Plunge to End Off Week
Stocks Plunge to End Off Week
Dec 14, 2007 3:51 PM CST

Stocks Plunge to End Off Week

Big consumer price inflation builds concern rate cuts are over

(Newser) - The Dow dived 178.11 points today to 13,339.85 after a 0.8% spike in the consumer price index, the biggest since September 2005, sparked concern that the era of rate cuts might be over. Inflation was “the 800-pound gorilla in the room,” one strategist told...

Consumer Prices Jump Most in 2 Years

CPI surge on rising energy costs sparks inflation worries

(Newser) - November’s consumer price index spiked 0.8%—the biggest rise since September 2005—as soaring energy costs pushed up prices on an array of  goods and services. The increase, higher than the 0.6% anticipated, reignites inflation worries, causing experts to predict that further Fed rate cuts are unlikely,...

China Looks to Buy American
China Looks
to Buy American
Dec 10, 2007 7:27 PM CST

China Looks to Buy American

Seeks investments to adjust yuan growth; US official set for talks

(Newser) - China, increasingly being called upon to more rapidly adjust the growth of the yuan against the dollar, is looking to expand its investment in US assets as a way to funnel its powerhouse currency out of the country, Bloomberg reports today. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson visits Beijing Wednesday for a...

WH Pares 2008 Economic Forecast, Hikes Jobless Rate

Housing decline 'more significant' than thought

(Newser) - The White House cut back its expectations for 2008 economic growth today and said unemployment rates are likely to worsen, citing the housing slump. GDP will grow only by 2.7% next year, down from an earlier 3.1%, said officials from Treasury and the Council of Economic Advisers; and...

Inflation Still in Check as Housing Offsets Energy

Housing slump offsets energy rise to keep CPI down

(Newser) - Consumer prices saw only modest gains last month, welcome news for inflation watchers with an eye on rising oil prices and a dropping dollar. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.3%, in lockstep with analysts' estimates. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2%. Year-over-year, the increases were...

Bernanke Ups Fed Transparency
Bernanke Ups Fed Transparency
Nov 14, 2007 10:34 AM CST

Bernanke Ups Fed Transparency

Extra reports to give investors clearer picture

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve will issue more detailed reports  twice as often, Ben Bernanke announced today. Starting next Tuesday, the Fed will release projections for inflation, GDP, and unemployment four times a year, accompanied by a “narrative” telling investors what the Fed is thinking. Bernanke also said he’d be...

Fed Slashes Key Interest Rate Another Quarter-Point

Board signals further cuts are no sure thing

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve cut its key lending rate today by 25 basis points, to 4.5%. The expected reduction is the second of the federal funds rate in two months. The board asserted, however, that growth and inflation risks are now “roughly balanced,” a signal that further cuts...

Wall Street Watching Fed's High Wire Act

Rate cut expected in unusually tough decision this week

(Newser) - All eyes are on the Fed this week, with Wall Street expecting a quarter-point rate cut when the group meets Tuesday and Wednesday. But the decision is an usually tough one, the AP reports, with the tight rope between controlling inflation and keeping markets fluid more precarious than it has...

China's Still Booming, but What About Inflation?

11.5% growth pushes prices worldwide

(Newser) - China's economy is booming and inflation is in check, but for how long? Third quarter growth swelled the economy by 11.5%, putting China ahead of Asian rivals India and Vietnam, and inflation dropped to 6.2%. Beijing says it will keep falling, but inflationary fears sent the Shanghai stock...

What Inflation? Consumer Prices Fall 0.1%

Fed's rate cut looks good as housing, gas prices hit books

(Newser) - Ben Bernanke is likely patting himself on the back right now, Bloomberg reports. US consumer prices fell 0.1% in August, the first decline this year, making Federal Reserve chairman’s rate cut look good, with inflation potentially under control. “Core inflation has now been falling for nearly a...

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