WEATHER ALERT
US employers add a solid 151,000 jobs last month though unemployment up to 4.1%
Read full article: US employers add a solid 151,000 jobs last month though unemployment up to 4.1%U.S. employers added solid 151,000 jobs last month, but the outlook is cloudy as President Donald Trump threatens a trade war, purges the federal workforce and promises to deport millions of immigrants.
Number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rises to 242,000, highest level in 3 months
Read full article: Number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rises to 242,000, highest level in 3 monthsApplications for U.S. jobless benefits rose to a three-month high last week but remained within the same healthy range of the past three years.
Second estimate of US growth confirms a 2.3% annual pace expansion in fourth quarter
Read full article: Second estimate of US growth confirms a 2.3% annual pace expansion in fourth quarterThe American economy grew at a solid 2.3% annual rate the last three months of 2024, supported by a burst of year-end consumer spending, the government said, leaving unchanged its initial estimate of fourth-quarter growth.
Inflation, looming trade war take a toll as confidence of the U.S. consumer tumbles
Read full article: Inflation, looming trade war take a toll as confidence of the U.S. consumer tumblesU.S. consumer confidence plummeted in February, the biggest monthly decline in more than four years, a business research group said Tuesday.
Sightly more Americans apply for unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain relatively low
Read full article: Sightly more Americans apply for unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain relatively lowSlightly more Americans applied for jobless benefits last week, but layoffs remained in the same recent healthy range.
Federal Reserve officials see risks of higher inflation ahead, support pause in rate cuts
Read full article: Federal Reserve officials see risks of higher inflation ahead, support pause in rate cutsFederal Reserve officials at a meeting last month pointed to rising risks that inflation could worsen, a key reason they kept their benchmark interest rate unchanged.
December wholesale prices up a hot 0.4% as fight against inflation appears to have stalled
Read full article: December wholesale prices up a hot 0.4% as fight against inflation appears to have stalledU.S. wholesale prices came in hotter than expected last month at a time when progress against inflation appears to have stalled, undercutting expectations for lower interest rates this year.
Stock market today: Wall Street holds firm following Trump's latest tariffs
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street holds firm following Trump's latest tariffsWall Street held relatively firm following President Donald Trump’s latest tariff escalation and after the Federal Reserve hinted interest rates may not change for a while.
Average US rate on a 30-year mortgage falls to 6.89%, third straight weekly decline
Read full article: Average US rate on a 30-year mortgage falls to 6.89%, third straight weekly declineThe average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased for the third week in a row, a smidgen of relief for prospective home shoppers getting into the market before the busy spring homebuying season starts.
US job openings fall to 7.6 million in December, suggesting the job market is slowing but healthy
Read full article: US job openings fall to 7.6 million in December, suggesting the job market is slowing but healthyU.S. job openings fell in December, a sign that the labor market is cooling but remains healthy.
Former Federal Reserve adviser indicted and arrested for alleged espionage in dealings with China
Read full article: Former Federal Reserve adviser indicted and arrested for alleged espionage in dealings with ChinaFederal authorities have arrested a former Federal Reserve senior adviser for allegedly giving inside economic information to China.
US inflation is lingering and tariffs threatened by Trump could nudge prices in wrong direction
Read full article: US inflation is lingering and tariffs threatened by Trump could nudge prices in wrong directionAn inflation gauge closely watched by the Federal Reserve rose slightly last month, the latest sign that some consumer prices remain stubbornly elevated, even as inflation is cooling in fits and starts.
Average rate on 30-year mortgage eases for second week in as row, but remains just below 7%
Read full article: Average rate on 30-year mortgage eases for second week in as row, but remains just below 7%The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased for the second week in a row, but remains just below 7%, little relief for prospective home shoppers looking ahead to the spring homebuying season.
Fewer Americans apply for jobless benefits last week as labor market shows continued strength
Read full article: Fewer Americans apply for jobless benefits last week as labor market shows continued strengthThe number of Americans filing for jobless benefits fell last week in a sign that the labor market remains strong.
Stock market today: Wall Street slips after the Federal Reserve keeps interest rates steady
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street slips after the Federal Reserve keeps interest rates steadyU.S. stocks slipped after the Federal Reserve held its main interest rate steady and broke a run of cuts that began in September.
Fed hold rates steady, sees inflation as 'elevated,' as Powell declines comment on Trump
Read full article: Fed hold rates steady, sees inflation as 'elevated,' as Powell declines comment on TrumpThe Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday after cutting it three times in a row last year, a sign of a more cautious approach as the Fed seeks to gauge where inflation is headed and what policies President Donald Trump may pursue.
Stock market today: Nvidia and other tech stocks win back some of Monday's sharp losses
Read full article: Stock market today: Nvidia and other tech stocks win back some of Monday's sharp lossesRebounding tech stocks drove U.S. indexes higher a day after they tumbled on doubts about whether the artificial-intelligence frenzy really needs all the dollars being poured into it.
Federal Reserve expected to stand pat on rates even as Trump demands cuts
Read full article: Federal Reserve expected to stand pat on rates even as Trump demands cutsThe Federal Reserve is nearly certain to keep its key interest rate unchanged at its policy meeting this week, just a few days after President Donald Trump said he would soon demand lower rates.
Trump says he will 'demand' that interest rates come down, but it won't be that simple
Read full article: Trump says he will 'demand' that interest rates come down, but it won't be that simplePresident Donald Trump has pledged cheaper prices and lower interest rates, but an economy transformed by the pandemic will make those promises difficult to keep.
Federal Reserve says it will leave climate change organization
Read full article: Federal Reserve says it will leave climate change organizationThe Federal Reserve said Friday that it is leaving an international grouping of central banks that focused on how the financial system could help combat climate change.
Why are interest rates rising when the Fed has been cutting them?
Read full article: Why are interest rates rising when the Fed has been cutting them?The yield on the 10-year Treasury has recently soared toward its highest level since 2023, injecting nervousness into the U.S. stock market that's knocked indexes from their records.
JPMorgan posts record annual profits as major US banks thrive in the final quarter of 2024
Read full article: JPMorgan posts record annual profits as major US banks thrive in the final quarter of 2024JPMorgan’s net income soared 50% to more than $14 billion in the fourth quarter as the bank’s profit and revenue easily beat Wall Street forecasts, and other major banks reported banner earnings for the year.
US inflation picked up in December but underlying price pressures eased
Read full article: US inflation picked up in December but underlying price pressures easedU.S. inflation picked up last month as prices rose for gas, eggs, and used cars, yet underlying price pressures also showed signs of easing a bit.
Average US long-term mortgage rate inches up to 6.93% this week for fourth straight increase
Read full article: Average US long-term mortgage rate inches up to 6.93% this week for fourth straight increaseThe average long-term U.S. mortgage rate ticked up again this week, remaining at its highest level since July.
Federal Reserve officials at December meeting expected slower pace of rate cuts ahead
Read full article: Federal Reserve officials at December meeting expected slower pace of rate cuts aheadFederal Reserve officials at their meeting Dec. 17-18 expected to dial back the pace of interest rate cuts this year in the face of persistently elevated inflation and the threat of widespread tariffs and other potential policy changes.
Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge shows price pressures eased last month
Read full article: Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge shows price pressures eased last monthAn inflation gauge that is closely watched by the Federal Reserve barely rose last month in a sign that price pressures cooled after two months of sharp gains.
Trump was poised to inherit a strong economy. Then things got rocky and he added to the uncertainty
Read full article: Trump was poised to inherit a strong economy. Then things got rocky and he added to the uncertaintyDonald Trump seemed poised to inherit a relatively strong economy when he begins a second term in the White House in January.
US stocks fall sharply and Dow tumbles 1,100 points after the Fed hints at just 2 rate cuts for 2025
Read full article: US stocks fall sharply and Dow tumbles 1,100 points after the Fed hints at just 2 rate cuts for 2025U.S. stocks tumbled to one of their worst days of the year after the Federal Reserve hinted it may deliver fewer shots of adrenaline for the U.S. economy in 2025 than earlier thought.
Retail sales rose at healthy pace last month in latest sign of US economy's health
Read full article: Retail sales rose at healthy pace last month in latest sign of US economy's healthConsumers stepped up their spending at retail stores last month, providing a boost to the economy in the early phases of the winter holiday shopping season.
Stock market today: Nasdaq hits a record as Wall Street drifts ahead of Federal Reserve's meeting
Read full article: Stock market today: Nasdaq hits a record as Wall Street drifts ahead of Federal Reserve's meetingU.S. stock indexes drifted through mixed trading ahead of a meeting by the Federal Reserve later this week that could set Wall Street’s direction into next year.
US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
Read full article: US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevatedWholesale costs in the United States picked up sharply last month, signaling that price pressures are still evident in the economy even though inflation has tumbled from the peak levels it hit more than two years ago.
Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs reportU.S. stocks rose to records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation.
US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown
Read full article: US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdownAmerica’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls.
Powell: Fed's independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions
Read full article: Powell: Fed's independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisionsChair Jerome Powell said the Federal Reserve’s ability to set interest rates free of political interference is necessary for it to make decisions to serve “all Americans” rather than a political party or political outcome.
US consumer price increases accelerated last month with inflation pressures resilient
Read full article: US consumer price increases accelerated last month with inflation pressures resilientConsumer price increases accelerated last month, the latest sign that inflation’s steady decline over the past two years has stalled.
Number of Americans filing for jobless benefits falls again and hovers near 7-month lows
Read full article: Number of Americans filing for jobless benefits falls again and hovers near 7-month lowsThe number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week, remaining near seven-month lows.
Federal Reserve officials signal cautious path for rate cuts amid still-high inflation
Read full article: Federal Reserve officials signal cautious path for rate cuts amid still-high inflationWith inflation still elevated, Federal Reserve officials expressed caution at their last meeting about cutting interest rates too quickly, adding to uncertainty about their next moves.
Powell says Fed will likely cut rates cautiously given persistent inflation pressures
Read full article: Powell says Fed will likely cut rates cautiously given persistent inflation pressuresChair Jerome Powell says the Federal Reserve will likely cut its key interest rate slowly and deliberately in the coming months, in part because inflation has shown signs of persistence and the Fed’s officials want to see where it heads next.
The number of Americans filing for jobless claims falls to lowest level in 6 months
Read full article: The number of Americans filing for jobless claims falls to lowest level in 6 monthsThe number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to the lowest level in six months last week as layoffs remain at relatively healthy levels.
Trump's economic agenda for his second term is clouding the outlook for mortgage rates
Read full article: Trump's economic agenda for his second term is clouding the outlook for mortgage ratesDonald Trump’s election win is clouding the outlook for mortgage rates even before he gets back to the White House.
Inflation is still on the rise — and it’s impacting your savings. Here’s how
Read full article: Inflation is still on the rise — and it’s impacting your savings. Here’s howInflation has caused costs to skyrocket for many Americans. But even as it cools, it's still threatening the value of your savings account.
Frustrated Americans await the economic changes they voted for with Trump
Read full article: Frustrated Americans await the economic changes they voted for with TrumpFed up with high prices and unimpressed with an economy that by just about any measure is a healthy one, Americans demanded change when they voted for president.
Slightly more Americans apply for unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain at low levels
Read full article: Slightly more Americans apply for unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain at low levelsThe number of Americans applying for jobless aid ticked up last week but layoffs remain at historically low levels.
Federal Reserve cuts its key interest rate by a quarter-point amid postelection uncertainty
Read full article: Federal Reserve cuts its key interest rate by a quarter-point amid postelection uncertaintyThe Federal Reserve cut its key rate by a quarter-point in response to the steady decline in the once-high inflation that had angered Americans and helped drive Donald Trump’s presidential election victory this week.
Average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the US rises for fifth straight week
Read full article: Average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the US rises for fifth straight weekThe average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. rose for the fifth straight week, returning to its highest level since early August.
US applications for jobless benefits fall as layoffs remain at historically healthy levels
Read full article: US applications for jobless benefits fall as layoffs remain at historically healthy levelsFewer Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as layoffs remained at historically healthy levels despite elevated interest rates.
US applications for jobless benefits fall, but continuing claims rise to highest level since 2021
Read full article: US applications for jobless benefits fall, but continuing claims rise to highest level since 2021The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell last week, but the total number of those collecting benefits rose to its highest level in almost three years.
Wealthier Americans are driving retail spending and powering US economy
Read full article: Wealthier Americans are driving retail spending and powering US economyIt’s a trend that has surprised many: Why, despite being squeezed by high prices, have Americans kept spending at retail stores and restaurants at a robust pace.
US consumer sentiment slips in October on frustration over high prices
Read full article: US consumer sentiment slips in October on frustration over high pricesAmericans’ outlook on the economy soured a bit after two months of small gains, according to the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index, released Friday.
US jobless claims hit 258,000, the most in a year. Analysts point to Hurricane Helene, Boeing strike
Read full article: US jobless claims hit 258,000, the most in a year. Analysts point to Hurricane Helene, Boeing strikeThe number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits last week jumped to its highest level in a year, which analysts are saying is more likely a result of Hurricane Helene — and the Boeing strike — than a broader softening in the labor market.
Home listings climb in nation's priciest markets as locked-up inventory starts to shift
Read full article: Home listings climb in nation's priciest markets as locked-up inventory starts to shiftThe recent pullback in mortgage rates and expectations of further easing next year may be motivating more U.S. homeowners to list their home for sale.
US inflation reaches lowest point in 3 years, though some price pressures remain
Read full article: US inflation reaches lowest point in 3 years, though some price pressures remainInflation in the United States dropped last month to its lowest point since it first began surging more than three years ago, adding to a spate of encouraging economic news in the closing weeks of the presidential race.
Stock market today: Wall Street slides after Treasury yields climb back above 4% and oil rises
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street slides after Treasury yields climb back above 4% and oil risesU.S. stocks slid after Treasury yields hit their highest levels since the summer and oil prices continued to climb.
Stock market today: Oil prices jump again on worries about the Middle East as Wall Street fades
Read full article: Stock market today: Oil prices jump again on worries about the Middle East as Wall Street fadesCrude prices jumped on worries about worsening tensions in the Middle East, while U.S. stocks pulled back further from their records.
Fed Chair Powell says the US economy is in 'solid shape' with gradual rate cuts coming
Read full article: Fed Chair Powell says the US economy is in 'solid shape' with gradual rate cuts comingFederal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has signaled that more rate cuts are in the pipeline, though their size and speed will depend on the evolution of the economy.
Fed's favored inflation gauge shows cooling price pressures, clearing way for more rate cuts
Read full article: Fed's favored inflation gauge shows cooling price pressures, clearing way for more rate cutsThe Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure provided the latest sign that price pressures are easing, a trend that is expected to fuel further Fed interest rate cuts.
The Fed sees its inflation fight as a success. Will the public eventually agree?
Read full article: The Fed sees its inflation fight as a success. Will the public eventually agree?With its larger-than-usual half-point cut to its key interest rate last week, the Federal Reserve underscored its belief that it’s all but conquered inflation after three long years.
Stock market today: Wall Street closes its record-setting week mixed as FedEx slumps and Nike jumps
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street closes its record-setting week mixed as FedEx slumps and Nike jumpsU.S. stocks drifted around their all-time highs, as a record-setting week for Wall Street closed on a quieter note.
US home sales fell in August despite easing mortgage rates, more homes on the market
Read full article: US home sales fell in August despite easing mortgage rates, more homes on the marketSales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell in August to the slowest annual pace in nearly a year even as mortgage rates eased and the supply of properties on the market kept rising.
Wall Street soars to records as Dow leaps 500 in a rate-cut rally that swept the world
Read full article: Wall Street soars to records as Dow leaps 500 in a rate-cut rally that swept the worldWall Street romped to records as a delayed jubilation swept markets worldwide following the Federal Reserve’s big cut to interest rates.
The Federal Reserve is finally lowering rates. Here's what consumers should know
Read full article: The Federal Reserve is finally lowering rates. Here's what consumers should knowThe Federal Reserve has cut its benchmark interest rate from its 23-year high, with consequences for debt, savings, auto loans, mortgages and other forms of borrowing by consumers and businesses.
Federal Reserve is set to cut interest rates for the first time in 4 years
Read full article: Federal Reserve is set to cut interest rates for the first time in 4 yearsWith inflation barely above their target level, Fed officials have been shifting their focus toward supporting a weakening job market and achieving a rare “soft landing,” whereby it curbs inflation without causing a sharp recession.
Federal Reserve prepares for first rate cut since 2020. Here's what it could mean for homebuyers
Read full article: Federal Reserve prepares for first rate cut since 2020. Here's what it could mean for homebuyersThe Federal Reserve is expected to meet tomorrow, and all eyes are on what could be the first rate cut since 2020. With the current federal funds rate sitting at its highest point in 23 years—between 5.25% and 5.50%—consumers are left wondering how this decision will impact their wallets.
Federal Reserve signals end to inflation fight with a sizable half-point rate cut
Read full article: Federal Reserve signals end to inflation fight with a sizable half-point rate cutThe Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by an unusually large half-point, a dramatic shift after more than two years of high rates that helped tame inflation but also made borrowing painfully expensive for consumers.
Stock market today: Most of Wall Street edges lower after Fed delivers a big cut to rates
Read full article: Stock market today: Most of Wall Street edges lower after Fed delivers a big cut to ratesMost of the U.S. stock market edged lower after the Federal Reserve kicked off its efforts to prevent a recession with a bigger-than-usual cut to interest rates.
US retail sales ticked up last month in sign of ongoing consumer resilience
Read full article: US retail sales ticked up last month in sign of ongoing consumer resilienceAmericans spent a bit more at retailers last month, providing a small boost to the economy just as the Federal Reserve considers how much to cut its key interest rate.
US consumer sentiment ticks higher for second month but remains subdued
Read full article: US consumer sentiment ticks higher for second month but remains subduedAmericans’ outlook on the economy improved for the second straight month in September, bolstered by lower prices for long-lasting goods such as cars and furniture.
Stock market today: Wall Street’s best week of 2024 closes with indexes near their records
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street’s best week of 2024 closes with indexes near their recordsU.S. stocks closed their best week of the year with more gains and climbed to the cusp of their records.
Wholesale inflation mostly cooled last month in latest sign that price pressures are slowing
Read full article: Wholesale inflation mostly cooled last month in latest sign that price pressures are slowingU.S. wholesale price increases mostly slowed last month, the latest evidence that inflation pressures are cooling enough for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates next week.