Consumer prices surged in April as continuing energy shocks from the war in Iran reverberated through the economy, according to Labor Department data released Tuesday. The inflation rate rose to 3.8% in April from a year earlier and 0.6% from the previous month. The annual rate was the highest inContinue Reading
Americans consumed 5% less alcohol by volume last year than the year before, according to new data released Monday by IWSR, a beverage alcohol data and analytics firm. But this new abstinence may have less to do with people wanting to stay sober than with basic economics. Regardless, sales areContinue Reading
U.S. consumer sentiment has fallen to a new record low, according to the University of Michigan’s latest consumer survey released Friday. The consumer sentiment index fell to 48.2 in preliminary May data, signaling Americans’ deeply pessimistic views about their finances, prices and the broader economy. This is the lowest readingContinue Reading
Home prices rose in 71% of U.S. metro markets during the first quarter of 2026 even as national price growth continued to slow, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Association of Realtors. Sixteen metro areas posted double-digit price gains, the report said. Overall, the median single-family existing-homeContinue Reading
When the U.S. economy gets turbulent, Mark Zandi is the economic forecaster that policymakers, investors and reporters often turn to first. Zandi is the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, a financial intelligence and economic research firm, and one of the country’s most closely followed forecasters. He frequently testifies before Congress,Continue Reading
The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged Wednesday, meaning costs for mortgages, car loans, credit card debt, business loans and other everyday borrowing are likely to remain high. The Fed held its key interest rate in a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, with policymakers voting 11-1 to leave borrowing costsContinue Reading
A new startup has a radical plan: bring disputed news stories before an artificial-intelligence-powered tribunal that will rule on whether the claims are true or false. Objection — founded by Aron D’Souza and backed by Peter Thiel, both of whom were involved in one of the most contentious media lawsuitsContinue Reading