Latest Inflation News

Federal Reserve is likely to preach patience as consumers and markets look ahead to rate cuts

Mar. 18, 2024 07:12 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Across the United States, many people are eagerly anticipating the Federal Reserve's first cut to its benchmark interest rate this year: Prospective home buyers hope for lower mortgage rates. Wall Street traders envision higher stock prices. Consumers are looking for a break on...

Stock market today: Asian stocks gain ahead of US and Japan rate decisions

Mar. 18, 2024 00:57 AM EDT

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks advanced Monday ahead of policy decisions this week by Japan’s central bank and the Federal Reserve. Oil prices and U.S. futures rose. Chinese data for January-February were mixed, with property investment falling while other...

China's economy shows signs of improvement, but its property sector is still in the doldrums

Mar. 18, 2024 02:03 AM EDT

HONG KONG (AP) — China's manufacturing and investment improved in the first two months of the year, while weakness in the property sector weighed on the economy, the National Bureau of Statistics said Monday. The report said industrial output rose 7% from a year earlier in...

Home sellers are cutting list prices as spring buying season starts with higher mortgage rates

Mar. 15, 2024 18:01 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — More homeowners eager to sell their home are lowering their initial asking price in a bid to entice prospective buyers as the spring homebuying season gets going. Some 14.6% of U.S. homes listed for sale last month had their price lowered, according to...

Stock market today: Wall Street slips further away from records amid inflation worries

Mar. 15, 2024 18:00 PM EDT

Wall Street closed out its second straight losing week Friday, giving back some of the gains that helped push the stock market to an all-time high earlier in the week. The S&P 500 fell 0.6%, its third straight loss. The benchmark index hit a record high on Tuesday, but mostly...

Why are so many voters frustrated by the US economy? It's home prices

Mar. 15, 2024 11:30 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lori Shelton can't fathom ever having the money to buy a home — and that's a major reason why so many voters feel down on the economy ahead of this year's presidential election. Shelton, 67, drives an Uber to help pay rent in Aurora, Colorado. An advance on her...

US consumer sentiment ticks down slightly, but most expect inflation to ease further

Mar. 15, 2024 11:02 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers became slightly less optimistic about the economy this month, though they continue to expect inflation to cool further, a potential sign that price increases will keep slowing. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index, released Friday in...

Stock market today: Asian markets retreat after data dash hopes that a US rate cut is imminent

Mar. 15, 2024 00:19 AM EDT

BEIJING (AP) — Asian markets retreated Friday, with Hong Kong’s benchmark falling 2%, after a mixed batch of data on the U.S. economy dashed hopes that easier interest rates are coming soon. Oil prices and U.S. futures fell. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 edged 0.1% lower to...

Afya: Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Mar. 14, 2024 20:04 PM EDT

NOVA LIMA, Brazil (AP) — NOVA LIMA, Brazil (AP) — Afya Ltd. (AFYA) on Thursday reported fourth-quarter net income of $20.6 million. The Nova Lima, Brazil-based company said it had net income of 22 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for amortization costs and non-recurring costs,...

February retail sales up 0.6%, yet fissures emerge in what has been a driving force for US economy

Mar. 14, 2024 17:26 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans picked up their spending a bit in February after pulling back the previous month. But last month’s gain was weaker than expected, and January’s decline was revised even lower, suggesting that many are growing more cautious with their money. Retail...