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Recent Articles from CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
US retail sales rose slightly in September, adding to months of big gains
U.S. retail sales rose 0.2% in September as high prices and weak hiring pressured consumers, though stronger spending may boost third-quarter economic growth.
US inflation cools and Americans step up spending as they brace for tariff impact
Inflation slowed to 2.3% in March while consumer spending jumped, especially on cars, ahead of Trump's tariffs. Fed expected to hold interest rates.
US consumer confidence plunges to lowest in 5 years on tariff worries
Consumer confidence in the U.S. fell for a fifth straight month, hitting the lowest level since 2020 amid rising tariff concerns and recession fears.
Trump renews attack on Federal Reserve Chair Powell
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump repeated his attacks Monday against the chair of the Federal Reserve, demanding that the central bank lower its key interest rate to boost the economy. Trump called Jerome Powell “a major loser” and said that energy and grocery prices are “substantially lower” and “there is virtually No Inflation.” Yet Trump said the […]
Powell says Federal Reserve can wait on any interest rate moves
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve can stay patient and wait to see how tariffs and other economic policies of the Trump administration play out before making any changes to interest rates, Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday. “For the time being, we are well positioned to wait for greater clarity” on the impact of policy changes in […]
Will the tariffs lead to a recession? Here’s how to know if we’re in one
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s sharp tariff hikes last week have sent the stock market into a tailspin, raised alarm bells among Wall Street executives, and heightened many economists’ worries that the U.S. could tip into recession. The tariffs, set to take effect Wednesday, include a 10% blanket duty on nearly all countries and additional import taxes on […]
Federal Reserve chief says Trump tariffs likely to raise inflation and slow US economic growth
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — The Trump administration’s expansive new tariffs will likely lead to higher inflation and slower growth, and the Federal Reserve will focus on keeping price increases temporary, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Friday. Powell said that the tariffs, and their likely impacts on the economy and inflation, are “significantly larger than expected.” He also said [&hellip[...]
Trump’s tariff push is a race against time, and potential voter backlash
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s expansive new tariff regime flips on its head a decades-long global trend of lower trade barriers and is likely, economists say, to raise prices for Americans by thousands of dollars each year while sharply slowing the U.S. economy. The White House is gambling that other countries will also suffer enough pain […]
US consumers remained cautious about spending last month as inflation ticked higher
WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation picked up last month and consumers barely raised their spending, signs that the economy was already cooling even before most tariffs were imposed. Friday’s report from the Commerce Department showed that consumer prices increased 2.5% in February from a year earlier, matching January’s annual pace. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, cor[...]
Federal Reserve keeps interest rate unchanged, sees slower growth, slightly higher inflation ahead
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday and signaled that it still expects to cut rates twice this year, though more policymakers forecast fewer cuts. The Fed also now expects the economy to grow more slowly this year and next than it did three months ago, according to a […]
