Inflation

Every month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics sends hundreds of workers out to stores to gather prices of about 80,000 goods and services. But there's a new computer program that combs through the Internet and grabs prices.

After a dazzling rise to more than $1,900 an ounce, the yellow metal has clearly lost its luster. The price of bullion has slumped by 10 percent since the end of last week, down to $1,420 an ounce.

The producer price index -- prices received by U.S. companies -- rose 0.7 percent last month, its largest uptick in five months. Diane Swonk, chief economist with Mesirow Financial, explains what's behind the rise and whether the U.S. should be worried about inflation.

Global markets are mixed this morning after China reported that inflation hit a ten-month high in February and consumer spending came in worse than expected.

According to the current Consumer Price Index, the inflation rate is zero percent. But for many people, their cost of living doesn't reflect the data's averages.

A eulogy for inflation, after the consumer price index comes in at 0.0 percent.

Gus Faucher, senior economist at PNC Financial Services , discusses the housing market, the economy and your paycheck.

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party promises to tackle economic problems.

To avoid the fiscal cliff, some want to change the Consumer Price Index to reflect lower real inflation. That would cut Social Security payments.

Today police in Iran fought with money lenders and other protesters in front of the country's central bank. Inflation in Iran is running at a shocking clip: the Iranian Rial is down 25% against the dollar in just the past week.