Federal Reserve

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Productivity Up, But Inflation Still Looms

Escalating cost of labor helps drag down growing economy

(Newser) - US productivity increased last quarter, but analysts are still worried about the economy’s ability to grow while keeping inflation at bay. Nonfarm business productivity rose by 1.8%, beating the first quarter’s rate of 0.7%, but the government was forced to lower productivity estimates for previous years,...

And He's Not Going to Take It Anymore

'Mad Money' madman Cramer snaps, beseeches Bernanke to cut rates

(Newser) - In YouTube's most watched video today, CNBC's Jim Cramer blasts Fed chairman Ben Bernanke for signaling that he won't cut interest rates, calling the present stay-the-course market situation "Armageddon." As his dumbfounded interlocutor looks on, the "Mad Money" host pounds the table and thunders that the "...

Dow Sees Biggest Gain in 5 Years Before Fed Meeting

Markets break out of three-week slump

(Newser) - US stocks posted major gains after three straight weeks in the red, as blue chips advanced cautiously in the wake of last week's selloff. The Dow was up 286.87 to 13468.78, its best close since October, 2002, mainly following long-suffering financial companies. Merrill Lynch got a boost from...

Jobless Rate Rises While GDP Rebounds

Economic growth balances looming threat of inflation

(Newser) - The unemployment rate increased slightly in the second quarter, but the GDP recovered after a lackluster first quarter, providing Wall Street with a mixed report card of the nation’s economy as the Fed meets to determine interest rates. Unemployment ticked up 0.1% to 4.6%, hastened by losses...

5 Reasons to Think Bearish
5 Reasons to Think Bearish
Jul 22, 2007 8:29 AM CDT

5 Reasons to Think Bearish

Despite record growth, Wall Street has plenty of cause for concern, Business Week says

(Newser) - Wall Street is giddy with low unemployment, optimistic earnings predictions, and a resilient economy, but BusinessWeek lists five things for investors to worry about.
  1. Volatility in earnings, especially tech companies
  2. Consumer spending, as gas prices take their toll
  3. Inflation, which could prompt the fed to raise interest rates
  4. Subprime aftereffects,
...

Stocks Drop on Fed Chief's Mixed Report

Tech earnings, Bear Stearns, Bernanke send Dow tumbling 53.33

(Newser) - US markets sank today after two Bear Stearns hedge funds were revealed to be worthless and the Fed Chairman expressed concerns about the stability of the economy. Testifying before the House, Ben Bernanke said he expects growth next year, but stressed that the sinking housing market continues to saddle the...

Stock Sell-Off Rings Out 2nd Quarter

Markets dip, inflation cools, oil prices soar as Fed plays wait-and-see

(Newser) - Stocks slipped slightly today as the tumultuous second quarter ended in a cloud of uncertainty and contradictory economic reports. The Dow fell 13.66 to close at 13,408.62, up over 1,000 points since April, after an early surge in response to optimistic inflation and construction-spending reports. But...

Consumer Confidence, New Home Sales Slump

Grim economic indicators continue to stack up

(Newser) - Indicating that the topsy-turvy economy probably won't be righting itself anytime soon, consumer confidence dropped in May, as did new home sales, a signal that the reeling housing market has yet to hit bottom. The Fed will likely take up consumer worries at a 2-day meeting that starts tomorrow, Bloomberg...

CPI Registers Spring Spike
CPI Registers Spring Spike
Jun 15, 2007 11:06 AM CDT

CPI Registers Spring Spike

Energy, food drive big May bump in consumer spending as core inflation stays cool

(Newser) - The consumer price index jumped 0.7% in May, riding high energy prices to its second-biggest spike in 16 years. But the volatile food and energy sectors appeared not to disrupt the rest of the economy, MarketWatch reports. The core CPI, which excludes food and gas prices, rose only 0....

Dow Closes Down 80.86 on Inflation Scare

Bernanke comment, retail profit warnings contribute to slump

(Newser) - The Dow fell 80.86 points today, closing at 13,595.46 after companies in the retail sector issued warnings of reduced profits and Fed chairman Ben Bernanke commented that inflation risks are still high. "There are a lot of little things out there that are scaring the market,...

Inflation Cools, Heats Wall Street
Inflation Cools, Heats Wall Street
May 15, 2007 1:48 PM CDT

Inflation Cools, Heats Wall Street

But gas prices, at record highs, still worrisome

(Newser) - The core consumer price index stayed steady last month, rising just 0.2% and cooling worries about inflation. The overall CPI, which responds to fluctuating food and energy costs, climbed 0.4%, still well within the comfort zone. That's good news for the Fed, which held interest rates steady last...

Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady
Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady
May 9, 2007 2:26 PM CDT

Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady

Unanimous vote seeks to stave off inflation

(Newser) - The Fed held the benchmark interest rate steady at 5.25% today in an unsurprising statement that prompted little reaction from the market. The unanimous vote reflects concerns about a faltering housing market, slowed growth, and persistent fears about core inflation, which the Fed continues to consider "somewhat elevated....

Economy Slumps to 4-Year Low
Economy Slumps to 4-Year Low
Apr 27, 2007 11:11 AM CDT

Economy Slumps to 4-Year Low

Weak home sales, high oil prices drive slowdown

(Newser) - The country's economic growth has dwindled to its lowest rate in four years, with the housing slowdown, high energy prices, and a looming trade deficit driving lower-than-expected numbers released today. The economy grew 1.3% in the first quarter of 2007, down from 2.5% in the last three months...

Stories 781 - 793 | << Prev