It's hard to keep costs down at the supermarket, thanks to store design and our emotions

Jul 19, 2022
Grocery stores play on our sense of nostalgia with older music, and strategically placed items may trigger impulse buys, experts say.
Ever notice the nostalgic music playing in grocery stores? That's often intentional — putting customers in a good mood, which might encourage them to buy more.
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JPMorgan pauses stock buybacks as profits slump

Jul 14, 2022
CEO Jamie Dimon also cited economic worries, including the Ukraine war and inflation, in the big bank's move to conserve cash.
JPMorgan Chase's quarterly financial results disappointed Wall Street, and CEO Jamie Dimon discussed risks to the economy.
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For this Maine chocolatier, labor is the "No. 1 cost to stay competitive"

Jul 13, 2022
"To keep our great team, we have raised our wages significantly," said Kristin Thalheimer Bingham, co-owner of Dean's Sweets in Portland, Maine.
Chocolate "bombs" being prepared at Dean's Sweets in Portland, Maine.
Kaitlin Toto Photography

What does "broad-based" inflation look like down the road?

Jul 13, 2022
Energy, food and rent were big drivers of the 9.1% inflation reading. Where are those numbers headed?
Food prices were up 10% year over year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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For low-income military service members, inflation hits family budgets hard

Jul 13, 2022
Congress is considering a Pentagon funding bill that would continue a "basic needs allowance" for low-income service members.
Inflation has exacerbated food insecurity for some military families.
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Why the Fed's plans to shrink its balance sheet could get complicated

Jul 12, 2022
The central bank has made its portfolio a key part of monetary policy. But the balance sheet's economic impact isn't entirely clear, experts say.
As the Fed has scooped up assets to carry out quantitative easing, some are asking: At what cost? Above, the Federal Reserve building in Washington, D.C.
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"Cut!" Hollywood looks for savings as costs rise.

"Productions have to start making choices" due to inflation and supply snags, says Winston Cho of The Hollywood Reporter.
Some producers are considering whether to cut or combine scenes to offset higher expenses, says Winston Cho of The Hollywood Reporter.
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For public good, not for profit.

Higher interest rates may not make a dent in rising rents for more than a year

Jul 12, 2022
Rent growth is expected to ease after interest rates slow down homebuying. It will take even longer for inflation numbers to reflect that.
Month-over-month rent increases should begin to slow as demand cools.
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Gig work rebounds but some gig workers struggle with inflation

Jul 8, 2022
Gig workers now have access to unemployment benefits as the economy has opened back up.
As the economy has opened up, so too have opportunities and benefits for gig workers such as drivers for ride-hailing services.
Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

Is the rental market slowing down? Maybe.

Jul 7, 2022
Some private-sector sources are reporting that year-over-year rent increases slowed down in June. This could be good news for inflation, but not anytime soon.
Rent for one-bedroom apartments went up .5% from May to June, which is less than previous months, according to data from Zumper.
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