As consumer sentiment survey is released, differences emerge at different wealth levels

Apr 26, 2024
Inflation continues to be a key factor but richer folks have greater protection from its effects.
Wealthy and low-income households are not experiencing inflation the same way, says Kayla Bruun with Morning Consult.
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U.S. GDP grew by 1.6% in the first quarter, slower than expected

Apr 25, 2024
This marks the end of a six-quarter streak of GDP growth of 2% or more. But the downshift might not be cause for worry just yet.
The good news: consumer spending, the force that’s been buoying economic growth for months, still looks solid. The bad news: business leaders aren’t feeling quite as confident.
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Why does the world want dollars? Because of high interest rates, thriving economy in U.S.

Apr 23, 2024
The greenback is so strong that Japan and South Korea have complained.
“The U.S. has strong growth, strong earnings potential, and so we’re drawing in global equity investment,” said Win Thin at Brown Brothers Harriman.
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Summer EBT will help families buy groceries. But 14 states are opting out.

Apr 12, 2024
Administrative costs and a lack of political will are leading some states to turn down a new food aid program for children.
While $40 per child per month may not solve child food insecurity, it could help families that struggle with grocery costs.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Home prices have risen 423% in 40 years, fueling economic discontent

Apr 9, 2024
From 1984 to 2023, the median cost of a new home rose from $79,900 to $417,700, more than double the rate of overall price inflation.
This is not the first time America has dealt with rapid, destabilizing price increases, says Thomas Stapleford, economic historian at the University of Notre Dame.
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Wage growth outpaced inflation in March

Apr 5, 2024
That's good for workers, who have been experiencing positive real wage growth since May 2023.
“And so workers are coming out ahead. They’ve now experienced positive real wage growth since May of 2023,” says Julia Pollak at ZipRecruiter.
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Fed Chair Powell: Interest rates likely won't return to "historically low levels" before the pandemic

Powell discusses how monetary policymakers arrive at consensus, the value of transparency and the issues that influence interest rate decisions.
"Marketplace" host Kai Ryssdal interviews Jay Powell, head of the Federal Reserve.
Courtesy Federal Reserve

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What does the Fed mean when it says it's looking for 'good data'?

Mar 28, 2024
The latest Personal Consumption Expenditures index, or PCE, will be released Friday. Experts say there are other clues the Fed is looking for, too.
Basically, the Fed needs to feel the way it felt at the end of 2023 when inflation had been falling for half a year, says former Minneapolis Fed President Narayana Kocherlakota.
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As higher-income households do more shopping at Walmart, the store is stocking fancier brands

Mar 22, 2024
The fluorescent lit aisles of big box stores don’t scream luxury. But for certain items, consumers just don’t care.
The fluorescent lit aisles of big box stores don’t scream luxury. But for certain items, consumers just don't care.
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Unilever is planning to spin off its ice cream assets

Mar 19, 2024
The move, which would see Ben & Jerry's moved to a stand-alone unit, is part of a corporate restructuring.
Unilever and its new CEO want to cut out what’s not doing well and prioritize what they do best.
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