Topic: Inflation Rate

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When dictators fall, so do their banknotes

The following now defunct or possibly soon-to-be defunct banknotes are imbued with the symbols and iconography of their leaders, past and present.
Briefing
Obama vs. Romney 101: 6 ways they differ on health-care reform

Former Gov. Mitt Romney has taken a libertarian turn since championing health-care reforms in Massachusetts, including an individual mandate to purchase insurance, which became the model for President Obama's signature law. Here’s a list of areas where the candidates differ.
Focus
Recession in America? 10 questions assessing the threat.

Concerns about weak economies in Europe have already rattled global financial markets, and things are hardly rosy at home. Is America heading into a recession? Here are answers to 10 questions about that risk.
A hard landing for China? Six top economists weigh in.

China's economy grew 8.9 percent last quarter, the slowest pace in 2.5 years, and on Monday Premier Wen Jiabao cut the nation's growth target for 2012 to 7.5 percent, an eight-year low. Worries of a Chinese hard landing, defined as a sharp and sudden deceleration in growth, have gained momentum. However, China has been proactive in its efforts to prevent a hard landing. It has fine-tuned its policies to curb inflation, boost domestic consumption, and prevent a housing bubble. The Chinese government intervened heavily from 1989 to 1991 to cool its economy, causing real growth in gross domestic product to plunge to 4.1 percent in 1989, from 11.3 percent the previous year. It stepped in again in 1993. And some argue that this time around it's no different, and that the government knows exactly what it is doing. So we asked six top China analysts whether they saw a hard or soft landing scenario and what we should keep an eye on.
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.

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Opinion: How the tea party can 'agree' with Occupy movement's demands

Given the somewhat amorphous slogans of the Occupy Wall Street movement, members of the tea party may be wondering if they should join the fray. Depending on how the Occupy Wall Street agenda is actually applied, many of the protesters’ calls for change resonate pretty strongly with tea partiers. University of Denver law professor Robert Hardaway suggests how the tea party might “agree” with five of the Occupy movement's top demands – in its own way:
Deflation risks rising: Nightmare scenario

Deflation: If forecasts are correct, several factors could present a dangerous combination the Fed might not allow to brew for very long.
Economy expands 2.5 percent in the third quarter

The economy continued to expand with real GDP increasing at an annualized rate of 2.5 percent from the second quarter of 2011.
Fed bashing is back in vogue

The Federal Reserve is getting a lot of healthy criticism. But the moves by politicians are worrying.
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.
Devotees stick with gold

Gold has clearly lost a bit of its luster this month, but among the faithful, its appeal remains strong
Will the US become another Japan?

The differences between the US and Japan are great, but expect a Japan-like lengthy period of slow growth and deflation as America works down its debts
The struggle to balance inflation and shortages in Venezuela

Inflation in Venezuela has increased by a factor of more than 500 percent since 2003, and most producers are having a hard time selling government-regulated products at a profit.
There is more than one inflation rate

Prices of certain consumer goods, like food, clothes, and fuel, affect lower income groups more than the wealthy
The double-dip recession has already begun

One expert predicts that government spending will decline, pushing the country into yet another recession
August retail sales grind to a halt

Flat August retail numbers a bad sign for consumer spending and confidence
Time to give gold a break?

Gold lost $49 on Monday. But should you sell?
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
GDP shows weak expansion

According to an estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Gross Domestic Product increased 1.0 percent in the second quarter, while government spending went down 7.5 percent
McDonald's bucks sluggish economy with strong earnings

McDonald's net income rises 15 percent with strong growth overseas. But even in US, McDonalds sees revenues growing.
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?
In Pictures: Gold: A Test of Mettle
Why haven't we seen hyperinflation?

Quantitative easing increased the monetary base, but it didn't increase the money supply enough to cause hyperinflation
Oil stocks down, but oil prices plunge anyway

Oil stocks in the US saw a big drop. But traders, focused on the stalling economy and rising dollar, ignored the oil stocks report and sent oil prices to their lowest level since February.
Biflation: inflation and deflation, at the same time

The term 'biflation' describes the simultaneous inflation and deflation of different goods or services. The term may be relatively new, but the concept is more than ten years old.