The Federal Reserve has maintained that a 2% annual inflation rate is its goal. After months of inflation moving back up due to factors such as tariffs, reversing what looked like a slow but steady descent to 2%, the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) saw a reversal…

The post Inflation Lower Than Expected After Months of Inching Up appeared first on RISMedia.

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Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran said Monday that he expects a rapid decline in housing-related inflation despite higher costs for other items. He also suggested interest rate cuts may be warranted even as overall inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target. In his speech at Columbia University, Miran noted that current shelter inflation readings reflect…

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The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, which is the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of inflation, rose to 2.8% in September on an annual basis. According to data from the Commerce Department released Dec. 5, core PCE rose 0.2% over the previous month. The report, delayed by the government shutdown, seemingly gives a further green light…

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Throughout 2025, consumer sentiment toward the economy has declined noticeably—does the end of the year bring any turnaround?  According to a preliminary report on consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan (scheduled ahead of the final December report two weeks out), consumer sentiment improved slightly month-over-month. The closely watched index of consumer sentiment came in…

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This year is on track to end with a slower than average housing market, but will 2026 kick real estate into high gear? The 2026 housing forecast from Bright MLS projects another “transition year” for housing, with slight pick-ups in market fundamentals but enduring challenges for first-time buyers, as well as strong differences between regional…

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Mortgage rates improved for the second straight week according to new Freddie Mac data, showing a continued lean toward a more affordable market in the fast approaching 2026. The latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® found that the 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.19%, down from last week when it averaged 6.23%. A year ago…

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The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which measures American opinions of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months, declined by 6.8 points in November to 88.7 from 95.5 in October, as already negative consumer attitudes toward the economy appear to be souring further. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment of…

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While the uncertainty of the government shutdown is now more than a week behind us, consumer outlook on the economy has shown little improvement, per the latest index of Consumer Sentiment from the University of Michigan. In the latest index, consumer sentiment was reported at a near record low of 51; for reference, 100 is…

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At the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting Dec. 9-10, the final one of 2025, the voting committee will decide whether to adjust interest rates—with one voting member, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, already making his voting intentions clear.  In a Monday, Nov. 17 appearance at the Society of Professional Economists held at Oxford…

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Since taking office on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in September, Stephen Miran has pushed for a looser monetary policy. At both the September and October Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings, Miran dissented from the majority vote to cut interest rates by a quarter point, in favor of a higher cut by half…

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