#What would a debt ceiling failure mean for Americans?

#What would a debt ceiling failure mean for Americans?

Lawmakers are bracing for what could shape up to be a dramatic few weeks for both parties, as they brace for a high-stakes battle over the nation’s borrowing limit.  The Treasury Department said this week that the nation could have until as soon as the start of June before it exhausts the “extraordinary measures” implemented…

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#Fed hikes rates despite recession fears

#Fed hikes rates despite recession fears

The Federal Reserve voted to raise interest rates Wednesday by another 0.25 percentage points, brushing aside concerns about the financial sector and an expected recession later this year. The Fed’s rate-setting committee voted unanimously Wednesday to boost its baseline interest rate to a range of 5 to 5.25 percent, the point at which Fed officials…

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#Five takeaways from the March inflation slowdown

#Five takeaways from the March inflation slowdown

The consumer price index (CPI) fell to a 5 percent annual increase in March from 6 percent in February, the Labor Department reported Wednesday, dropping a full percentage point as prices for goods ranging from fresh produce to automobiles became cheaper. That’s the lowest level of annual consumer inflation since May 2021. Prices have been…

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#Five takeaways from a strong March jobs report

#Five takeaways from a strong March jobs report

Unemployment fell to 3.5 percent and the U.S. economy added 236,000 jobs in March as the labor market continued to show signs of strength, the Labor Department reported Friday. Wage growth appears to be cooling along with corporate profits, which are still way above their pre-pandemic levels, as inflation has been declining since the middle…

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