ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Aug 29 2025FINANCE

Inflation's Steady Climb: What It Means for Your Wallet

Inflation is still on the rise, but not by much. The latest numbers show prices went up by 2. 6% over the past year. That's not great, but it's not terrible either. It's the same as last month, so at least it's not getting worse fast. The core PCE, which looks at prices without food and fuel, went up a bit more than last month. It's now at 2. 9%. That's higher than ...

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Aug 17 2025FINANCE

Crypto Market Takes a Tumble: What's Next for Bitcoin and Friends?

Cryptocurrencies took a nosedive on Thursday, with Bitcoin leading the pack. The drop came after news that wholesale inflation was higher than expected, making investors nervous. Bitcoin, which had hit a new high of $124, 000 the day before, fell below $118, 000. It later bounced back a bit but still ended lower. The government's decision not to buy more Bitcoin for ...

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Aug 08 2025LIFESTYLE

Wisconsin's Hidden Gems Shine in Small City Rankings

Wisconsin is making waves in the small city scene, and it's not just luck. A recent study put two of its cities in the top five spots, showing that the state is a hotspot for great small-town living. Brookfield and Appleton are the stars, proving that good things come in small packages. Brookfield, a suburb of Milwaukee, is a standout. With a population of just unde...

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Jul 17 2025BUSINESS

Why Americans Are Still Spending Despite Rising Prices

In June, Americans kept their spending habits going strong, even as prices started to climb due to new tariffs. The Commerce Department shared that retail sales grew by 0. 6% from May, bouncing back from a big drop in May. Experts expected a much smaller increase, so this was a pleasant surprise. Car dealerships saw a big boost, with sales jumping by 1. 2%. Restaura...

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Jul 03 2025BUSINESS

Job Market Shifts: What's Really Happening?

The job market is showing signs of slowing down, and it's not just a blip. The private sector saw a drop in jobs last month, the first time this has happened in over two years. Economists had expected a gain, but instead, there was a loss of around 33, 000 jobs. This isn't because of mass layoffs, but because companies are hiring less and not replacing workers who le...

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Jun 29 2025FINANCE

Stock Market's Rollercoaster Ride: A Closer Look at the Recent Recovery

The stock market has hit a new high, but it's not all smooth sailing. The S&P 500 has bounced back to its February peak, but the journey there has been anything but steady. The market's recovery has been swift, fueled by a wave of optimism that swept away the fears from the April tariff panic. But is this rally built on solid ground or just a temporary high? The mar...

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Jun 26 2025BUSINESS

Rail Traffic Takes a Summer Dip: What's Going On?

Rail traffic in the U. S. has been a mixed bag lately. While some goods are moving more than before, others are seeing a slowdown. This is especially true for intermodal transport, which involves moving goods in containers by rail. The numbers show that intermodal traffic has taken a hit, likely because fewer goods are being shipped from China to the U. S. For the w...

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Jun 21 2025FINANCE

Market Moves: A Look at Friday's Winners and Losers

On Friday, the stock market saw some significant shifts, with certain companies standing out for better or worse. Accenture, a big name in professional services, saw its shares drop by 6. 9%. Why? Their bookings for the last quarter didn't meet what analysts were expecting. Even though their sales and profits were better than predicted, thanks to a boost from AI s...

reading time about 3 minutes
Jun 18 2025FINANCE

Stocks Tumble as Middle East Tensions and Economic Worries Collide

The stock market took a hit on June 17, 2025. Investors were worried about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Israel-Iran conflict had been going on for five days. This uncertainty made investors nervous, leading to a drop in stock prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 299. 29 points, or 0. 70%, closing at 42, 215. 80. The S&P 500 also saw a...

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Jun 17 2025FINANCE

The Fed's Tough Call: Tariffs and Rates

The Federal Reserve faces a tricky situation. The economy is doing pretty well, but there are some worrying signs. Inflation is going down, and unemployment is low, at 4. 2%. But here’s the twist: President Trump’s tariffs might make inflation go up and slow down growth. So, what’s the Fed to do? They’re likely to keep the key interest rate at 4. 4% for now. They’ll ...

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