March Consumer Confidence Up Despite…Everything

Despite an interesting few weeks that have seen several bank failures, persistent inflation, a stunted housing market and prospects of higher unemployment, consumers apparently felt unfazed, according to The Conference Board, New York.

Existing Home Sales Break 12-Month Slide

Existing home sales rose in February, marking the first monthly increase in a year, the National Association of Realtors reported Tuesday.

February Housing Starts Up Nearly 10%

February housing starts, permits and completions posted near double-digit percentage increases, ending five months of declines, HUD and the Census Bureau reported Thursday.

Inflation Rate Continues to Slow…Slowly

The federal government’s key measure of inflation—the monthly Consumer Price Index—continued to slow in February, albeit not by much.

Strong February Job Growth Muddies Fed Outlook

Employers added 311,000 jobs in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday—good news for the labor market but complicating news for the Federal Reserve, which faces the daunting task next week of encouraging economic growth while taming inflation.

Consumer Confidence Dips on High Prices, Interest Rates

The Conference Board, New York, said its monthly Consumer Confidence Index fell in February, marking the second consecutive monthly decline, amid economic uncertainty and persistent inflation.

Housing Starts Down 5th Straight Month

Housing starts fell in January, HUD and the Census Bureau reported Thursday, marking the fifth straight monthly drop, the longest streak of declines since 2009.

January Consumer Prices Rise; Not Out of Woods Yet

Consumer prices rose by 0.5 percent in January and by 6.4 percent annually, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday, as rising food and energy prices reminded consumers that inflation—while well down from its earlier peak—is taking its time getting back to normal.