Latest Jerome Powell News

Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge shows price pressures eased last month

Dec. 20, 2024 10:37 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — An 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. Friday’s report from the Commerce Department showed that prices rose just 0.1% from October to...

Trump was poised to inherit a strong economy. Then things got rocky and he added to the uncertainty

Dec. 20, 2024 07:02 AM EST

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The smooth economy that Donald Trump was poised to inherit suddenly looks a bit rockier — with critics saying the president-elect is contributing to the uncertainty. The Dow Jones stock index essentially ended Thursday flat after having posted 10 days...

Bank of England warns of 'heightened uncertainty' as it keeps interest rates on hold

Dec. 19, 2024 07:34 AM EST

LONDON (AP) — The U.K.’s central bank warned Thursday of “heightened uncertainty" as it kept interest rates on hold after inflation moved further above target, even at a time when the British economy is flatlining at best. The Bank of England’s nine-member Monetary Policy...

Federal Reserve cuts its key rate by a quarter-point but envisions fewer reductions next year

Dec. 18, 2024 16:31 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Wednesday by a quarter-point — its third cut this year — but also signaled that it expects to reduce rates more slowly next year than it previously envisioned, mostly because of still-elevated inflation. The...

Retail sales rose at healthy pace last month in latest sign of US economy's health

Dec. 17, 2024 17:14 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers 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. Retail sales rose 0.7% in November, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, a solid increase and higher than...

Federal Reserve is likely to slow its rate cuts with inflation pressures still elevated

Dec. 16, 2024 12:11 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans hoping for lower borrowing costs for homes, credit cards and cars may be disappointed after this week's Federal Reserve meeting. The Fed's policymakers are likely to signal fewer interest rate cuts next year than were previously expected. The officials...

Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions

Dec. 08, 2024 18:20 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump said he can't guarantee that his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won't raise prices for American consumers and he suggested once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. ...

Why Trump and the Federal Reserve could clash in the coming years

Dec. 05, 2024 07:16 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on the promise that his policies would reduce high borrowing costs and lighten the financial burden on American households. But what if, as many economists expect, interest rates remain elevated, well above their...

Stock market today: Tech stocks and AI pull Wall Street to more records

Dec. 04, 2024 17:18 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes rose to more records Wednesday after tech companies talked up how much of a boost they’re getting from the artificial-intelligence boom. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to add to what’s set to be one of its best years of the millennium. It’s...

Powell: Fed's independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions

Dec. 04, 2024 15:46 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that 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. Speaking at the New...