The Federal Reserve is in a tough spot. They're trying to figure out how to handle both rising inflation and increasing unemployment. This is a big challenge, and it's not just a short-term issue. The Fed's own staff has warned about a higher chance of a recession, according to the latest meeting notes from May 6-7. One of the main problems is that the Fed has t...
In May, Americans felt a bit more optimistic about the economy. This shift came after five months of declining confidence, which hit a low point in April. The main reason for the earlier pessimism? Worries about the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index saw a significant jump of 12. 3 points in May, reaching 98....
The U. S. economy is in a steady state. It's not perfect, but it's not terrible either. The job market is strong, with plenty of jobs available and people finding work. However, there are some concerns. Inflation is a bit higher than the target of 2 percent. This means prices are going up a bit faster than desired. The economy is still growing, but it's slowing down ...
The Euro is having a tough time right now. It dropped to around 1. 0830 against the US Dollar. This happened because the European Central Bank (ECB) is worried about the trade war led by US President Donald Trump. The ECB's president, Christine Lagarde, thinks this trade war could slow down the Eurozone's economy. The US Dollar is getting stronger, which is making th...
In a surprising turn, the UK's inflation rate dropped to 2. 5% in December 2024, catching economists off guard. The consumer price index (CPI) had previously been at 2. 6% in November. Core inflation, which doesn't include the ups and downs of food and energy prices, also dipped to 3. 2%, down from 3. 5% in November. This comes after a low of 1. 7% in September. The ...
Get ready for a big change in the social media world! TikTok, the popular video app with over 170 million US users, is set to be shut down in the US next Sunday. This is happening because of a law passed by Congress back in April, which requires TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its stake or face a ban due to security concerns. The Supreme Court rec...
Businesses in the UK are feeling the pinch, big time! A new survey by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that confidence among firms has hit a new low since the infamous "mini-budget" crisis of late 2022. The big worry? Taxes! Over 60% of businesses are fretting over their tax bills, which have risen due to an increase in National Insurance. This tax hike, announ...
As 2024 draws to a close, mortgage rates are on the rise again. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is now just below 7%, the highest it's been in six months. This increase comes despite the Federal Reserve's recent rate cut. The central bank, however, is less optimistic about further cuts this year due to persistent inflation and a strong job market. Mortgage ra...
On Wednesday, the market took a tumble with the Dow Jones losing over 1, 100 points. Surprisingly, this happened after the Federal Reserve announced plans to cut interest rates twice more in 2025. The S&P 500 and Russell 2000 also suffered significant losses, falling below important thresholds. Treasury yields saw a spike, reaching heights not seen since May. Nvidia ...
Do you know that when Treasury yields go up, prices go down? Today, the 10-year Treasury note was barely changing, sitting around 4. 39%. Meanwhile, the 2-year Treasury note wasn't moving much either, hanging around 4. 21%. This happened right before the Federal Reserve makes its decision about interest rates. Investors are waiting for the Fed's decision at 2 p. m. ...