U.S. Economy

Latest U.S. Inflation Report Showed Rising Prices Continue to Weigh on American Consumers

The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, was up 2.5% for the 12 months that ended in February, a faster pace than January’s 2.4% rise in prices.

The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, was up 2.5% for the 12 months that ended in February, a faster pace than January’s 2.4% rise in prices. However, it was in line with FactSet consensus estimates.

Driving the increase in the annual inflation rate was a 2.3% jump last month in energy prices.The Commerce Department data released Friday means the Fed is even further from achieving its goal of 2% inflation. But Fed Chair Jerome Powell wasn’t fretting about it.

The data was “pretty much in line with our expectations,” Powell said Friday at an event hosted by the San Francisco Fed. He added that it’s generally good when data aligns with the central bank’s forecasts.

International

IMF Raises India’s 2025 GDP Growth Forecast by 30 bps to 6.8 Percent

The International Monetary Fund on April 16 raised India’s FY25 GDP growth forecast by 30 bps to 6.8%.

International

India & China Inflation Readings are Worlds Apart, India is Playing Catch-up after Covid: Moody's Analytics

Retail inflation outlook for Asia's two largest economies India and China is uncertain and currently 'worlds apart,' Moody's Analytics said in a report on Friday.

International

What's behind China's Gold-buying Spree?

For more than a year, China's central bank has been buying up large amounts of gold.