inflation news stories on Newser

Krugman vs. Bernanke: Who's Reckless?

Kevin Spak — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:45:05 CDT

Call it the "battle of the beards," suggests Robert Samuelson of the Washington Post : Paul Krugman vs. Ben Bernanke. Both are prominent economists, both have facial hair aplenty, and each has called the other "reckless." Krugman has been lambasting the Fed for not doing enough to help the economy recover—...

We Need a Weaker Dollar

Kevin Spak — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:45:05 CDT

Ben Bernanke has become a popular punching bag for the right lately, with people like Ron Paul and Rick Perry trying "to bully the Fed into doing exactly the wrong thing," writes Paul Krugman in the New York Times . "The right wants the Fed to obsess over inflation," constantly warning...

Thanks for Nothing: Pecan Prices Up 22%

Mark Russell — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:57:49 CST

For those who can't face Thanksgiving without pecan pie, you're going to pay dearly for the privilege this year: the price tag on the tasty dessert is up by 22%, reports CNN . Sure, core inflation is a low 2% , but food prices are on the rise, and pecans are up...

2 Americans Win Nobel Prize in Economics

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:42:10 CDT

Americans Thomas Sargent and Christopher Sims won the Nobel economics prize today "for their empirical research on cause and effect in the macroeconomy," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced. The prize committee said the winners have developed methods for answering questions such as how economic growth and inflation are...

The Hidden Inflation Crisis: ‘Let Them Eat iPads’

Kevin Spak — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:58:05 CDT

America is facing an inflation crisis, and there’s nothing it can do—because the government won’t acknowledge the problem, writes Ken Kurson of Esquire , in a piece entitled “Let Them Eat iPads.” Why the title? Well, last month some poor soul confronted New York Fed Chairman William Dudley about soaring...

Consumer Spending Up... Thanks to Gas Prices

Matt Cantor — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:12:26 CDT

Consumer spending rose at its fastest rate in four months in February—but that’s in large part due to rising gas prices. Consumer spending climbed 0.7%, while personal income rose 0.3% following January’s 1.2% jump, the AP notes. Both gains reflected a Social Security tax cut, which...

China Jacks Up Interest Rates

Kevin Spak — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 05:55:00 CST

China pumped up its interest rates for the third time in four months today, in a desperate attempt to rein in inflation. One-year deposit rates rose to 3%, and the one-year lending rate to 6.06%, the New York Times reports, and analysts expect still more increases down the road.

Davos Brimming With Optimism for 'New Reality'

Kevin Spak — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 08:20:15 CST

The Davos World Economic Forum is an optimistic place this year—the theme is “Shared Norms for the New Reality,” meaning the post-financial-crisis reality. In a poll, 48% of the assembled CEOs said they were “very confident” of growth in the next 12 months, according to the Guardian . In his...

Mighty China Has a Financial Mess Brewing

Kevin Spak — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:41:05 CST

China may be a burgeoning economic superpower, but it’s also embroiled in a monetary fiasco that could turn into a genuine crisis, warns Paul Krugman in the New York Times . The problem is China’s refusal to let its currency rise. The policy has obviously vexed the US, “but a policy...