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Today: February 19, 2025
Today: February 19, 2025
CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

Staff Writer

Latest From CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

Business|Economy|Political|US

Trump's reciprocal tariffs will overturn decades of trade policy

President Donald Trump is taking a blowtorch to the rules that have governed world trade for decades

Trump's reciprocal tariffs will overturn decades of trade policy
Business|Economy|US

US retail sales plunged along with temperatures in January after a bustling holiday season

U.S. retail sales dropped sharply last month, in part because cold weather kept more Americans indoors and dented sales at car dealers and most other stores

US retail sales plunged along with temperatures in January after a bustling holiday season
Economy|Finance|Political|US

The latest inflation report shows that high prices are Trump's major economic challenge

Donald Trump promised as a candidate that he could easily conquer inflation, but the reality is proving tougher than he expected

The latest inflation report shows that high prices are Trump's major economic challenge
Business|Economy|Finance|Political|US

Powell says Trump's comments won't affect interest rate decisions by the Fed

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday President Donald Trump’s calls for lower interest rates won’t lead the central bank to change its rate decisions

Powell says Trump's comments won't affect interest rate decisions by the Fed
Business|Economy|Finance|US

US inflation got worse with rising groceries and gasoline prices

U.S. inflation accelerated last month as the cost of groceries and gasoline rose, a trend that will likely underscore the Federal Reserve’s resolve to delay any further interest rate cuts

US inflation got worse with rising groceries and gasoline prices
Economy|Finance|Political|US

Fed chair says bank accounts 'safe' despite Trump's teardown of consumer protection agency

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says Americans’ bank accounts are safe despite the Trump administration’s shutdown of a consumer financial regulatory agency

Fed chair says bank accounts 'safe' despite Trump's teardown of consumer protection agency
Business|Economy|Political|US

Trump says he will announce 25% steel and aluminum tariffs Monday, and more import duties are coming

President Donald Trump says he'll announce Monday the United States will impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, including from Canada and Mexico, as well as other import duties later in the week

Trump says he will announce 25% steel and aluminum tariffs Monday, and more import duties are coming
Business|Economy|Finance|Political|US

Trump administration orders consumer protection agency to stop work, closes building

The Trump administration has ordered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to stop nearly all its work, effectively shutting down the agency that was created to protect consumers after the 2008 financial crisis and subprime mortgage-lending scandal

Trump administration orders consumer protection agency to stop work, closes building
Business|Economy|Finance|US

US inflation is lingering and tariffs threatened by Trump could nudge prices in wrong direction

An inflation gauge closely watched by the Federal Reserve rose slightly last month, the latest sign that some consumer prices remain stubbornly elevated, even as inflation is cooling in fits and starts

US inflation is lingering and tariffs threatened by Trump could nudge prices in wrong direction
Business|Economy|Finance|Political|US

Fed hold rates steady, sees inflation as 'elevated,' as Powell declines comment on Trump

The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday after cutting it three times in a row last year, a sign of a more cautious approach as the Fed seeks to gauge where inflation is headed and what policies President Donald Trump may pursue

Fed hold rates steady, sees inflation as 'elevated,' as Powell declines comment on Trump
Business|Economy|Finance|Political|US

Federal Reserve expected to stand pat on rates even as Trump demands cuts

The Federal Reserve is nearly certain to keep its key interest rate unchanged at its policy meeting this week, just a few days after President Donald Trump said he would soon demand lower rates

Federal Reserve expected to stand pat on rates even as Trump demands cuts
Business|Political|Technology|US

New bid for TikTok from Perplexity AI could give US government 50% stake

Perplexity AI has presented a new proposal to TikTok’s parent company that would allow the U.S. government to own up to 50% of a new entity that merges Perplexity with TikTok’s U.S. business, according to a person familiar with the matter

New bid for TikTok from Perplexity AI could give US government 50% stake
Business|Economy|Finance|Political|US

Trump says he will 'demand' that interest rates come down, but it won't be that simple

President Donald Trump has pledged cheaper prices and lower interest rates, but an economy transformed by the pandemic will make those promises difficult to keep

Trump says he will 'demand' that interest rates come down, but it won't be that simple
Economy|Environment|Finance|Political|US

Federal Reserve says it will leave climate change organization

The Federal Reserve said Friday that it is leaving an international grouping of central banks that focused on how the financial system could help combat climate change

Federal Reserve says it will leave climate change organization
Economy|Finance|News

High gas prices push up inflation, but prices overall are slowly moving in the right direction

Inflation jumped last month largely because of a spike in gas prices, while other costs rose more slowly, suggesting price pressures are easing at a gradual pace

High gas prices push up inflation, but prices overall are slowly moving in the right direction
Business|Economy|Finance|News|US

3 officials sworn in at Federal Reserve, as governing board reaches full strength

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell swore in three members of the central bank’s governing board Wednesday, including Philip Jefferson as vice chair and Adriana Kugler to fill a vacant seat as the central bank’s first Latina governor

Business|Economy|Finance|Stock Markets|US

Wholesale price inflation accelerated in August from historically slow pace

U.S. wholesale prices increases accelerated in August, a sign that inflation remains stubbornly persistent despite a series of sharp interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve

Wholesale price inflation accelerated in August from historically slow pace
Business|Economy|Finance|US

Federal Reserve is poised to leave rates unchanged as it tracks progress toward a 'soft landing'

Since Federal Reserve officials last met in July, the economy has moved in the direction they hoped to see: Inflation continues to ease, if more slowly than most Americans would like, while growth remains solid and the job market cools

Federal Reserve is poised to leave rates unchanged as it tracks progress toward a 'soft landing'
Economy|Finance|US

Fed keeps rates unchanged and signals optimism about a potential 'soft landing'

The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the second time in its past three meetings, a sign that it’s moderating its fight against inflation as price pressures have eased

Fed keeps rates unchanged and signals optimism about a potential 'soft landing'
Business|Economy|Finance|News|US

Why the US job market has defied rising interest rates and expectations of high unemployment

Last year’s spike in inflation, to the highest level in four decades, was painful enough for American households

Why the US job market has defied rising interest rates and expectations of high unemployment
Business|Economy|Finance|News|US

US government estimates economy grew last quarter at a 2.1% rate, unchanged from previous projection

The U.S. economy grew at a 2.1% annual pace from April through June, extending its sturdy performance in the face of higher interest rates, the government said Thursday, leaving its previous estimate unchanged

US government estimates economy grew last quarter at a 2.1% rate, unchanged from previous projection
Business|Economy|Finance|News|US

Higher gas prices lift Fed's preferred inflation gauge but underlying price pressures remain mild

An inflation gauge closely tracked by the Federal Reserve rose in August, boosted mainly by higher gas prices

Higher gas prices lift Fed's preferred inflation gauge but underlying price pressures remain mild
Business|Economy|Finance|News|US

Fed's Powell gets an earful about inflation and interest rates from small businesses

Federal Reserve officials typically gather many of their insights and observations about the economy from some of the top Ph.D. economists in Washington

Fed's Powell gets an earful about inflation and interest rates from small businesses
Business|Economy|Finance|US

Rising long-term interest rates are posing the latest threat to a US economic 'soft landing'

Surging interest rates are intensifying the challenges for the U.S. economy and threatening to derail the Federal Reserve’s drive to tame inflation without causing a deep recession

Rising long-term interest rates are posing the latest threat to a US economic 'soft landing'
Business|Economy|Finance

A surge of hiring in September defies predictions, pointing to US job market's enduring resilience

An unforeseen burst of hiring last month has lifted hopes that the economy will prove durable once again, even as an array of threats lie ahead

A surge of hiring in September defies predictions, pointing to US job market's enduring resilience

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