Tag: Federal Reserve interest rates
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U.S. GDP Q2 2026: Growth Slows to 1.5% as Inflation Heats Back Up
U.S. GDP grew 1.5% in Q2 2026, well below the 2.1% economists expected. Consumer spending and AI-driven investment stayed strong, but a widening trade deficit and a jump in inflation complicate the picture heading into the Fed’s next move.
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April 2026 PCE Report: Americans Spent More, But Inflation Swallowed the Gains
Americans spent more in April 2026, but inflation consumed nearly all the gains. Real spending barely grew while real paychecks shrank and the saving rate hit a multi-year low. Here’s what BEA’s latest PCE report actually means for your wallet and the Fed’s next move.
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Economy Nearly Stalls in Q4 2025, but a Government Shutdown Shares the Blame
GDP grew just 0.7% in the final quarter of 2025, a sharp drop from Q3’s 4.4%. But a federal government shutdown that ran through most of October accounts for roughly a full percentage point of that drag. Here’s what’s underneath the headline.
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February 2026 CPI Report: Inflation Cools Slightly — But Food and Medical Costs Keep the Pressure On
Inflation held steady at 2.4% annually in February 2026 as the Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% on the month. Core prices cooled slightly, and the rent index posted its smallest monthly increase since January 2021. But food costs rose 3.1% over the year and medical care continued running hot at 3.4%.