Commentary It was a bad week for those promising that our inflation problems are going away. All data from January suggest exactly the opposite. The headlines for consumer prices were all about “cooling,” “firming,” “easing,” “moderating,” and another or so dozen weasel words to disguise the reality that January’s numbers had gained steam over December…
Inflation Seems to Be Re-Accelerating
Wall Street Opens Lower as Producer Prices Rebound
U.S. stock indexes opened sharply lower on Thursday after stronger-than-expected producer prices data added fears that the Federal Reserve will keep raising interest rates to tame inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 135.96 points, or 0.40 percent, at the open to 33,992.09. The S&P 500 opened lower by 32.85 points, or 0.79 percent, at…
Dollar Eases as Investors Price out ‘Armageddon Recession’ Risk
LONDON—The dollar stalled on Thursday as investors scooped up higher-risk currencies after a run of strong U.S. economic data reinforced confidence in the global growth outlook, even though the Federal Reserve looks set to raise interest rates further. Data from the U.S. Commerce Department showed on Wednesday that retail sales in the United States rebounded…
Oil Slips on US Stock Build, Trading in Narrow Range
LONDON—Oil prices edged lower on Thursday after a large build in U.S. crude inventories but continued to trade in a narrow range as hopes for a Chinese demand recovery remained in focus. Brent crude futures fell 36 cents, or 0.42 percent, to $85.02 a barrel by 1042 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures…
Stocks Shrug Off Rate Risks as Data Tempers Recession Worries
Stocks rose on Thursday as economic data from around the world fed hopes that the global economy might not face as hard a landing as feared a few months ago, even as interest rates threaten to remain higher for longer than expected. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.5 percent, while London’s FTSE 100 continued…
Should We Cheer Booming Retail Sales?
Commentary This one you simply will not believe. The major business press this morning absolutely cheered to the heavens about the surprise explosion in retail spending in January. As I will show, it’s all a big fakeroo. “The consumer roared back in January,” wrote the Wall Street Journal, “with broadly higher retail spending on vehicles,…
Fed Must Be Ready to Hike Rates for Longer Than Now Expected, Logan Says
The U.S. central bank will need to keep gradually raising interest rates to beat inflation, Dallas Federal Reserve President Lorie Logan said on Tuesday, putting investors on notice that borrowing costs may ultimately need to go higher than is now widely expected. “We must remain prepared to continue rate increases for a longer period than…
US Retail Sales Post Biggest Gain in Nearly 2 Years
WASHINGTON—U.S. retail sales increased by the most in nearly two years in January after two straight monthly declines as Americans boosted purchases of motor vehicles and other goods, pointing to the economy’s continued resilience despite higher borrowing costs. Coming on the heels of news on Tuesday that monthly inflation picked up in January, signs of…
Wall Street Opens Lower as Strong Retail Sales Data Adds to Rate Hike Fears
Wall Street’s main stock indexes opened lower on Wednesday after stronger-than-expected retail sales data underscored a resilient U.S. economy, which could offer more room for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 80.64 points, or 0.24 percent, at the open to 34,008.63. The S&P 500 opened lower by 16.63…
Dollar Climbs After US Inflation Data and Tough Fed Talk
LONDON/SINGAPORE—The dollar rose on Wednesday in the wake of stubbornly high U.S. inflation data and firm words on interest rates from Federal Reserve officials. U.S. consumer price index (CPI) inflation accelerated month-on-month in January, rising 0.5 percent as expected, due in part to higher rental and food costs. Year-on-year, prices rose 6.4 percent. That was…
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