Producer Prices Post Biggest Drop in Three Years
U.S. producer prices recorded their largest drop in three years in April as gasoline and food costs tumbled.
Ppi
Week in Preview: Fed, Inflation & Nike Earnings
Federal economic data, as well as the Labor Department's Producer Price Index and Consumer Price Index, could dominate economic news this week. And while the earnings season is winding down, quarterly reports from Nike and Ross Stores are scheduled.
Why a Little Inflation Is a Good Thing for Americans
Inflation has inched higher in the past six months, but that's not a danger sign, but rather a harbinger of improving economic conditions and a strengthening recovery. And that, in turn, should lead to higher wages and more hiring in the year ahead.
The Worrisome Numbers That the Official Inflation Figures Aren't Showing
Inflation in 2010 was low, according to the consumer price index. But underlying growth in the cost of energy, raw materials and health care could indicate significant inflation this year. And that could mean higher prices for consumers or lower profits for companies.
Week in Preview: First Earnings Reports and Economic Readings
Alcoa, Intel and JPMorgan Chase will kick off a new earnings season this week when they report their results for the fourth quarter of 2010. Here's what analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect, followed by a glance at what's coming up on the economic calendar.
Week in Preview: Spotlight on FedEx, Best Buy, Discover
FedEx, the world's leading package-delivery service and an ostensible bellwether of the U.S. economy, will report its latest earnings this week. Also, with the holiday shopping season well underway, Best Buy and Discover Financial Services are also reporting quarterly results.
Mild Producer Price Hikes Ease Deflation Concerns
Producer prices rose a higher-than-expected 0.4% in September, but the core rate rose just 0.1%, the Labor Department said. The price increases point to a low-inflation environment, easing concerns that the world%u2019s largest economy will lapse into a dangerous deflationary spiral.
Producer Price Index Falls More than Forecast
U.S. wholesale prices fell a seasonally adjusted 0.5% in June -- the biggest decline since February -- led by lower food and energy prices, the Labor Department reported Thursday. This follows a 0.3% decline in May, indicating that so far, the government's economic stimulus efforts haven't sparked inflation.
