Inflation

The consumer price index rose 0.4% last month, in line with July's reading. For a monetary policy committee that has been split on inflation, the inconclusive report will compel the Fed to make a call on whether to raise interest rates or stay put.

A consumer inflation expectations survey released Tuesday showed households expect inflation to be 3% or higher through at least the next five years.

The U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs in August, bouncing back from a surprise decline in July. The Fed's next interest rate decision will still hinge on next week's inflation reading.

The Federal Reserve is committed to fighting inflation, but it also has to keep an eye on a jobs market that is slowly and steadily losing steam.

The Federal Reserve governor said an upcoming change to the personal consumption expenditures index could show ongoing improvement in prices, building the case for leaving interest rates unchanged.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams said Wednesday that inflation expectations remain well anchored, suggesting a "wait-and-see" approach for monetary policy.

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh reiterated his stance against offering markets forward guidance on interest rate moves and expressed concern about inflation in the first Jackson Hole speech of his tenure.

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is slated to deliver the keynote speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium Friday morning, and markets will be listening for assurances on inflation, the balance sheet and Treasury market turmoil. 

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the personal consumption expenditures, or PCE, price index rose 3.7% from a year earlier, indicating that inflation remains above the Federal Reserve's target.

Most Americans are seeing their expenses go up, and lots of them are changing their spending habits as a result, which is sapping the economy's momentum.

Near-term expectations for price growth fell in the latest consumer sentiment survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, but remains above the central bank's target across all time horizons.

The latest consumer conditions study from the American Financial Services Association paints a less-than-rosy picture of how lenders expect the second half of the year to play out.

At a time of rapidly rising prices, a number of credit-card companies are offering perks for buying gas, groceries and other basic necessities. The cards represent an opportunity for issuers, but also potential pitfalls.

Christopher Phelan, President Donald Trump's nominee to chair the Council of Economic Advisers, declined to directly answer questions about recent inflation data and the effects of tariffs on consumers during a Senate confirmation hearing Thursday.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis' personal consumption expenditures inflation report for May showed that inflation had risen 4.1%, meeting elevated expectations and casting further doubt on the prospects of near-term interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve.

Newly minted Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh will host his inaugural press conference on Wednesday. Bankers will be paying close attention to what he says — and how he says it.

Inflation continued to rise in May, bolstering the case for the Federal Reserve to keep its policy rate unchanged at next week's Federal Open Market Committee meeting. But the range of future monetary policy outcomes is wide, with all eyes on how newly installed Fed Chair Kevin Warsh navigates his new role.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent downplayed senators' concerns about higher costs for Americans, noting average yearly inflation is lower than during the pandemic, while also confirming acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's Tuesday claim that the administration will not move forward with a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund."

A retrospective paper on the former Federal Reserve chair's tenure offers takeaways that speak directly to his successor's policy agenda.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said Friday that she believes price growth is still heading toward the central bank's 2% target when factoring out one-time shocks such as tariffs and elevated oil prices.