Breaking News: Economy
Job growth accelerated by 428,000 in April, more than expected as jobs picture stays strong
The U.S. economy added slightly more jobs than expected in April amid an increasingly tight labor market and despite surging inflation and fears of a growth slowdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. Nonfarm payrolls grew by 428,000 for the month, a bit above the Dow Jones estimate of 400,000. The unemployment rate was […]
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‘Unretirement’ is becoming a hot new trend in the sizzling U.S. labor market
A worker grinds a weld on a safe that is being manufactured at Liberty Safe Company on March 22, 2022 in Payson, Utah. George Frey | Getty Images The Covid pandemic sent more than 8 million workers to the sidelines at one point, including many folks who decided it was the right time to retire […]
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Fed raises rates by half a percentage point — the biggest hike in two decades — to fight inflation
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point as the most aggressive step yet in its battle against generational highs in inflation. “Inflation is much too high and we understand the hardship it is causing, we’re moving expeditiously to bring it back down,” Fed Chairman Jerome […]
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Fears of a Fed mistake grow as this week’s anticipated interest rate hike looms
Jerome Powell, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, attends the National Association of Business Economicseconomic policy conference in Washington, D.C, United States on March 21, 2022. Yasin Ozturk | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images The Federal Reserve is tasked with slowing the U.S. economy enough to control inflation but not so much that it tips […]
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The Fed’s favorite inflation gauge rose 5.2% in March as worker pay fell further behind
Canned goods are displayed at a Safeway store on April 11, 2022 in San Anselmo, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images A measure that the Federal Reserve focuses on to gauge inflation rose in March, likely cementing the central bank’s intention to hike interest rates by half a percentage in May. The core personal consumption […]
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U.S. GDP fell at a 1.4% pace to start the year as pandemic recovery takes a hit
Gross domestic product unexpectedly declined at a 1.4% annualized pace in the first quarter, marking an abrupt reversal for an economy coming off its best performance since 1984, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. The negative growth rate missed even the subdued Dow Jones estimate of a 1% gain for the quarter. GDP measures the output […]
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Fed’s Mester casts doubt on the need for ‘shock’ interest rate hikes ahead
Cleveland Federal Reserve President Loretta Mester said Friday she’s in favor of raising interest rates quickly to bring down inflation, but not so quickly as to disrupt the economic recovery. That means a strong likelihood of backing a 50 basis point rate hike at the next Fed meeting and perhaps a few more after, but […]
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Powell says taming inflation ‘absolutely essential,’ and a 50 basis point hike possible for May
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell affirmed the central bank’s determination to bring down inflation and said Thursday that aggressive rate hikes are possible as soon as next month. “It is appropriate in my view to be moving a little more quickly” to raise interest rates, Powell said while part of an International Monetary Fund panel. […]
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Watch Fed Chairman Jerome Powell speak live at IMF debate
[The stream is slated to start at 1 p.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks Thursday on a panel presented by the International Monetary Fund. CNBC’s Sara Eisen will moderate the talk. The event is part of the IMF’s […]
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Fed’s Daly says the economy can handle rate hikes, but a mild recession is possible
Mary Daly, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, poses after giving a speech on the U.S. economic outlook, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, November 12 2018. Ann Saphir | Reuters San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary Daly acknowledged Wednesday that a near-certain series of interest rate hikes over the coming months could tip […]
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