Topic: Consumer Price Index

Valentine's Day: cost of romance rising for flower delivery, 4 other things

When you arrange for flower delivery or take a special someone out for dinner this Valentine's Day, it'll cost more than it did a year ago. That's the cold hard fact about a warmhearted and festive day, according official US inflation data.

But the rising cost may actually be a relatively small one: Those chocolate or flower prices haven't been rising at gas-pump-fast rates. Here's the official inflation tally of five common Valentine's Day activities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Why do European central bankers sound like Austrian economists?

After attending a European Central Bank workshop on global liquidity, the author learned that European monetary economists sound surprisingly like Austrian economists. 

Minimum wage milestone: Why Washington State surpassed $9 an hour

Minimum wage laws raised the wage floor in eight states as of Jan. 1. Washington now tops all states, at $9.04 an hour. Economic effects of raising the minimum wage are in hot dispute.

Chinese yuan will catch up to the dollar faster than we thought

China's economy is growing faster than the numbers suggest. It could overtake the United States as the world's biggest economy even more quickly than previously thought.

Medicare premiums taketh what Social Security giveth?

Medicare premiums are slated to rise – by about $10 a month – for most recipients in 2012. These higher Medicare premiums will eat into the extra $39 a month that the average Social Security recipient is expected to get from next year's cost-of-living adjustment.

Social Security increase reduced after Medicare premiums increase

Social Security increase less than previously thought after Medicare premiums: The anticipated 3.6 percent increase in Social Security payout next year will only amount to $29 extra per month on average after an increase of Medicare premiums.

Social Security recipients see 3.5 percent raise

Social Security recipients have not received a raise since 2009. That is set to change in 2012, when Social Security checks will be about 3.5 percent more than the last two years.

Annual PPI: Wholesale prices rose in September

Annual PPI – a gauge of wholesale prices – rises to 6.9 percent. But without energy and food, core annual PPI up only 2.5 percent.

Social Security: seniors to see COLA increase in 2012

After an unprecedented two years of no cost-of-living adjustment, Social Security is poised to boost payments in January, a private group calculates. Social Security COLA will be between 3.5 and 3.7 percent.

Why inflation numbers aren't always comparable

Many factors, including methods of calculation and the value of various consumer goods, can make the same inflation number have different meanings for different countries

Social Security: Could a new way to measure inflation affect it?

Social Security is probably the most controversial thing that would be affected by a change in the way inflation is measured. Besides Social Security, what would be the other effects of a new measurement of inflation?

Bond market: Despite rally, PIMCO still bearish

Bond market uptick in Treasuries doesn't lift outlook for PIMCO's El-Erian. Market is too complacent about rising inflation, he says.

Worried about inflation, China strikes hard at Unilever

China fined Unilever more than $300,000 after the Anglo-Dutch firm said it might raise prices on toiletries and other products. The blunt response was designed to 'break ugly habits,' that distorted market prices, officials stated.

US economy slows sharply

Growth for the first quarter stood at 1.8 percent, down from 3.1 percent in the last three months of 2010.

Gas prices, bad weather slow the economy

Gas prices, which are still rising, curbed consumer spending during the first quarter of the year. Bad weather, along with high gas prices, may be responsible for the 1.8 percent annual growth rate of the economy.

Ben Bernanke, are $5 Wheaties a fluke?

Ben Bernanke and the Fed are trying to figure out if there is any funny business with price increases. But Ben Bernanke should see that the problem lies with Fed monetary policy.

Stocks end up on good economic news

The Dow rose about 56 points, with Merck and DuPont gaining and Bank of America and Cisco falling

Medicare premium hike could offset Social Security raise

Medicare price increases could wipe out any gain from a Social Security cost-of-living-adjustment next year for three-quarters of Medicare beneficiaries, estimates AARP.

Consumers won't save the US economy

The US is waiting for a consumer-driven economic recovery, but it isn't likely to come. Consumers don't have jobs or credit, and they're in no position to borrow.

Stock market poised for higher opening

Stock market futures, after Wednesday's big sell-off, move higher with brighter unemployment report.

Oil prices, world markets affected by Japanese quake

Oil prices have dropped, and currencies in Japan, China, and Singapore will be affected.

More inflation to come?

Inflation could get much, much higher, and the stakes aren't getting any lower.

Let them eat microchips!

The Fed is sending a message: Stop eating. Stop driving. Start buying more electronics.

Obama's top economist: Oil price hike not likely to derail economy (video)

The White House is monitoring rising oil prices but sees the US economy as better positioned to absorb them than in 1979, when oil prices spiked in the wake of the Iranian Revolution.

Imported inflation hits US consumers

Inflation rose 0.4 percent in January. Is it a sign of things to come?