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☆ Inflation seems to be cooling again. Americans aren’t buying it
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A slew of big-box retailers have lowered prices on items in recent weeks, citing moderating inflation and frugal customers. Recent economic data has also suggested that inflation is cooling, after data earlier this year spurred fears that progress had stalled. Yet Americans don’t seem convinced that inflation is moderating or that the economy is as healthy as indicators suggest. Mortgage rates have declined in recent weeks but remain near 7%. Target announced plans to cut prices on thousands of consumer basics as inflation cuts into household budgets.

Persons: aren’t, Charles Schwab’s, ”, James Kostulias, Charles Schwab, Joe Raedle, Jerome Powell, Powell, Neel Kashkari, “ I’m, Schumer, Chuck Schumer, General Merrick Garland, “, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Dick Durbin, Scott Sheffield, Read, Matt Egan, Mat Ishbia, homebuyers, refinances Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Walmart, Target, Ikea, Aldi, CPI, “ Traders, Minneapolis Federal, CNBC, Democrats, Justice Department, Oil, Big Oil, DOJ, Big, Federal Trade Commission, United Wholesale Mortgage, Phoenix Suns NBA Locations: New York, Miami , Florida, Minneapolis, Texas, Sens

☆ Uptick in European inflation clouds outlook for interest rate cuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Inflation in Europe has ticked up for the first time in five months, casting doubt on the possibility of a steady stream of interest rate cuts by the European Central Bank over the next few months. The European Central Bank began hiking rates in July 2022 to curb runaway inflation sparked by the reopening of the world’s economies following the pandemic as well as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “May’s increases (in inflation) won’t stop the ECB from cutting interest rates next week. All 82 economists polled by Reuters ahead of Friday’s inflation data expected the ECB to cut rates by a quarter of a percentage point next week. Over two-thirds, 55 of 82, expected two more cuts this year, in September and December.

Persons: “, Jack Allen, Reynolds, Claus Vistesen, ” Organizations: London CNN, European Central Bank, Reuters, ECB, Capital Economics, Pantheon Locations: Europe, Ukraine

☆ European Central Bank’s Knot says monetary policy to ease ‘gradually,' as markets brace for June rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Klaas Knot, president of De Nederlandsche Bank NV, on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G-20) finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Gandhinagar, India, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesLONDON — European Central Bank Governing Council member Klaas Knot said it would "soon" be time to ease monetary policy in the region, but cautioned that the process would need to be done slowly to keep inflation in check. "It can soon be appropriate to ease the currently restrictive monetary policy stance and gradually take our foot off the brake ... policy rates will slowly but gradually move into less restrictive levels," Knot, head of the central bank of the Netherlands, said at the Barclays-CEPR International Monetary Policy Forum in London Tuesday. In a Reuters poll of 82 economists this week, all said they expected a June cut. Knot, usually known for his more hawkish stance, said Tuesday there had been "clear disinflation" since the peak above 10% in late 2022, particularly in goods inflation.

Persons: Klaas Knot Organizations: De Nederlandsche Bank, Bloomberg, Getty, Central Bank Governing, Barclays, CEPR, Monetary, ECB, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of England, Reuters Locations: Gandhinagar, India, Netherlands, London

☆ What Trump 2.0 Could Mean for the Federal Reserve
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Former President Donald J. Trump relentlessly criticized the Federal Reserve and Jerome H. Powell, its chair, during his time in office. As he competes with President Biden for a second presidential term, that history has many on Wall Street wondering: What would a Trump victory mean for America’s central bank? The Trump campaign does not have detailed plans for the Fed yet, several people in its orbit said, but outside advisers have been more focused on the central bank and have been making suggestions — some minor, others extreme. Curbing the central bank’s ability to set interest rates without direct White House influence would be legally and politically tricky, and tinkering with the Fed so overtly could roil the very stock markets that Mr. Trump has frequently used as a yardstick for his success. But other aspects of Fed policy could end up squarely in Mr. Trump’s sights, both former administration officials and conservative policy thinkers have indicated.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Jerome H, Powell, Biden Organizations: Federal Reserve, White

☆ U.K. Inflation Falls to 2.3 Percent, Lowest in Three Years
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Eshe Nelson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Britain’s inflation rate slowed last month to its lowest level in about three years, approaching the Bank of England’s 2 percent target. Consumer prices rose 2.3 percent in April from a year earlier, down from 3.2 percent in March, the Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday. The rate, which declined slightly less than economists expected, was the lowest since July 2021. Food inflation also slowed to 2.9 percent, from 4 percent. The steep decline in headline inflation, closing in on the central bank’s target, signals a new phase in British policymakers’ battle against inflation.

Organizations: Bank of England’s, National Statistics Locations: Ukraine

☆ Fed officials aren’t easing Wall Street’s nerves
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Optimism spurred by the latest inflation data pushed all three major stock indexes to new record highs. But now Wall Street, eager for rate cuts, is on edge again. But some financial leaders remain doubtful that the Fed is feeling confident enough to cut rates soon. “I think we’re set up for stickier inflation.”Some Fed officials say another rate hike isn’t likelyFed officials have mostly sounded a little more optimistic about inflation recently, after the Consumer Price Index for April finally provided some welcome news. Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester told Bloomberg on Monday that she also thinks interest rates are high enough to deal with inflation.

Persons: they’re, Dow, Christopher Waller, ” Waller, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, “ I’m, ”, “, Philip Jefferson, Mary Daly, Axios, Jerome Powell, Klaas Knot, Loretta Mester, Chris Larkin Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Reserve, CNBC, ”, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Boston College, Mortgage, Association, ” San Francisco Fed, European Central Bank Governing, Cleveland Fed, Bloomberg, “ Locations: ” San

☆ Fed’s Powell is unfazed by the latest hot inflation reading
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Tuesday’s wholesale inflation data, which jumped to its highest rate in a year, certainly wasn’t a source of comfort. “I wouldn’t call it hot, I would call it sort of mixed,” Powell said Tuesday, referring to the new wholesale inflation data. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell (center) spoke Tuesday at an event hosted by the Foreign Bankers' Association alongside European Central Bank Governing Council member Klaas Knot. Another troubling sign for US central bankers is consumers’ belief that inflation will move higher in the year ahead, according to two surveys Fed officials monitor closely. That can lead to higher prices.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Powell, Price, ” Powell, ”, Klaas, Michelle Bowman Organizations: New, New York CNN, Foreign Bankers ’ Association, European Central Bank Governing, Federal, Foreign Bankers, Association alongside European Central Bank Governing, Foreign Bankers Amsterdam, ” Locations: New York

☆ Consumers haven’t felt this bad about the economy since November
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Additionally, consumers are bracing for even higher price increases in the year ahead compared to readings from prior months, the survey found. However, the latest reading is still better than last May, when inflation was running at 4%, versus the latest reading of 3.5%. Long-run inflation expectations also rose, to 3.1% from 3.0% in April. Since inflation expectations can effectively control the pace of price hikes, businesses take those expectations into account when pricing goods and services. The survey suggests that the recent optimism consumers had about the state of the economy is waning.

Persons: Biden, FactSet, it’s, they’re, Joanne Hsu Organizations: New, New York CNN, University of Michigan, Federal Reserve, Fed, Consumers Locations: New York

☆ The Perils of the Fed’s Vast Bond Holdings
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jeff Sommer | More About Jeff Sommer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

But even after two years of quantitative tightening, the amount of bonds and securities that the Fed still retains is stupendous. Quantitative tightening is a perilous operation. Earlier attempts — notably, in 2019 — disrupted financial markets. The slow pace of quantitative tightening is partly responsible for the Fed’s inability to contribute to the national budget. That’s because the Fed has also raised interest rates, which move in the opposite direction of bond prices.

Persons: — Organizations: Fed, Treasury, Silicon Valley Bank Locations: United States

☆ Markets jump higher after softer-than-expected jobs report fuels hopes of an earlier rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The unemployment rate ticked higher as well, to 3.9% from 3.8% the month before. That’s because the Federal Reserve is working to slow the economy by hiking interest rates — the only tool it has to fight inflation. A still-robust job market means the central bank could continue to keep rates elevated without fear of sending the economy into a recession. If the labor market weakens, the Fed is more likely to consider a rate cut. “We’re also prepared to respond to an unexpected weakening in the labor market,” he said.

Persons: Dow, “, ”, Matt Peron, Janus Henderson, They’re, Jerome Powell, “ We’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, Nasdaq, of Labor Statistics, Wall, Federal Reserve, Janus, Janus Henderson Investors, ”, Treasury, Apple Locations: New York

☆ Sell in May and go away? Think again
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —It’s “sell in May and go away” season. All three major indexes broke five-month winning streaks as hotter-than-expected inflation data stoked fears that interest rate cuts will come later than forecast. The central bank kept interest rates on hold at a 23-year high at its policy meeting. Persistent inflation has kept long-anticipated rate cuts on the backburner. Tesla “has let our entire charging org go,” William Navarro Jameson, strategic charging programs lead at Tesla, wrote on X.

Persons: Stocks, Jerome Powell, ”, Alex McGrath, Larry Tentarelli, Bryan Mena, it’s, Read, Tesla, Tesla “, ” William Navarro Jameson, Lane Chaplin, Hanna Ziady, Peter Valdes Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, The, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Wednesday, Traders, Blue, Carson Group, Research, Federal Reserve, Fed, Motors, Ford, Tesla Locations: New York

☆ Fed Holds Rates Steady, Noting Lack of Progress on Inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jeanna Smialek | More About Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Federal Reserve officials left interest rates unchanged and signaled that they are wary about how stubborn inflation is proving, paving the way for a longer period of high interest rates. The Fed held borrowing costs steady at 5.33 percent on Wednesday, leaving them at a more than two-decade high where they have been set since July. Central bankers reiterated that they need “greater confidence” that inflation is coming down before reducing rates. “Readings on inflation have come in above expectations,” Jerome H. Powell, the Fed chair, said at a news conference following the release of the central bank’s rate decision. After months of rapid cooling, inflation has proved surprisingly sticky in early 2024.

Persons: ” Jerome H, Powell Organizations: Federal Reserve, Fed

☆ Interest rates: It’s a mystery when the Fed will begin to cut them
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —Nowadays, it’s anyone’s guess when the Federal Reserve will begin to cut interest rates this year — if at all. Fed officials are meeting this week, starting Tuesday, to discuss rates and set policy. That guidance will be key for market observers who clearly have divergent views on interest rates. Forecasts from major Wall Street banks on the first rate cut are all over the place: JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs expect the first cut in July, while Wells Fargo is betting on September. Some Fed policymakers, meanwhile, have even floated the possibility of a rate hike, instead of a cut.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Wall, Liz Ann Sonders, Charles Schwab, Jerome Powell, “, ” Kathleen Grace, John Towfighi, That’s, nearshoring, Alberto Ramos, Ramos, Morgan Stanley, Read, Cindy Westman, —, Brian Fung, Jason Carroll, I’ll, ”, Westman, ’, Westman — Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, Washington CNN, Federal Reserve, JPMorgan, Bank of America, CNN, Labor Department, Manufacturing, Commerce Department, Program, Social Locations: Washington, Wells, Mexico, —, China, United States, Eureka , Illinois

☆ Bets on Rate Cuts This Year Are Fading Away
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Jeanna Smialek | More About Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

At the start of 2024, investors expected the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates substantially this year as inflation cooled. Investors and economists are questioning when and how much Fed policymakers will manage to cut rates — and some are increasingly dubious that Fed officials will manage to lower them at all this year. Inflation’s stickiness has prompted Fed officials to signal that it may take longer to reduce interest rates than they had previously expected. Policymakers raised interest rates to 5.33 percent between March 2022 and last summer, and have held them there since. Investors who came into the year expecting a first rate cut by March have pushed back those expectations to September or later.

Persons: Inflation’s stickiness Organizations: Federal Reserve, Investors

An effort to give Trump more say on ratesThis week, investors had planned to examine the latest inflation data, due out at 8:30 a.m. Eastern on Friday, for clues about when the Fed would start cutting interest rates. The Wall Street Journal reports that allies of Donald Trump are devising ways of watering down the central bank’s independence if he is re-elected president. But it also raises questions about whether such a plan is possible — or whether Trump’s Wall Street supporters would back it. Among the most consequential would be asserting that Trump had the authority to oust Jay Powell as Fed chair before Powell’s term is up in 2025. While Trump gave Powell the job in 2017, he has since soured on his pick for raising rates, and has publicly said he wouldn’t give Powell a second term.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Jay Powell, Powell, wouldn’t Organizations: Trump, Street Journal, Wall

☆ Private equity finds its next bet: college admissions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Now, private equity firms are swooping in to help while taking majority stakes in exchange. Last week, the company announced that it would partner with California-based private equity firm Nexus Capital Management and move its test into a for-profit company. A company owned by private equity can obfuscate what the company actually does to the public and potentially to regulators. Private equity firms “come into industries that are already suffering from a lack of funding,” said Creeks. They’ve had a lack of funding and support and so sometimes private equity is the only viable option.

Persons: New York CNN — It’s, Janet Godwin, “, ” Goodwin, ”, we’ve, Charlie Eaton, Goodwin, Critics, Constantine Yannelis, Rebecca Winthrop, They’ve, ” Powell, Jerome Powell, Powell, Bryan Mena, Chris Isidore, United, Max Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, ACT Inc, U.S ., ACT, Nexus Capital Management, ”, CNN, Nexus, Higher, University of California, ” Nonprofit, Nexus Capital, Savvas Learning Company, Private Equity, Project, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Center for Universal Education, Brookings Institution, P Global Market Intelligence, College Board, Veritas Capital, “, Bank of Canada, Wilson, Fed, United, United Airlines, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: New York, Iowa, California, Merced, Canada

☆ Fed Chair Powell hints at no interest rate cut in May, keeping rates higher for longer
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Interest rates are currently nestled at a 23-year high after the Fed launched an aggressive rate-hiking campaign two years ago. Inflation is down considerably from a four-decade peak reached in the summer of 2022, but recent inflation reports have shown persistent price pressures in services and housing. First rate cut in the summer? Wall Street already wasn’t betting on a rate cut in May, but some analysts are estimating the first cut could come some time in the summer. Analysts at Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Nomura are estimating a first rate cut in July.

Persons: Jerome Powell, “, Powell, ”, ” Quincy Krosby, don’t, hasn’t, Goldman Sachs, Philip Jefferson Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal, Wilson, Fed, Congress, LPL, Atlanta Fed, Goldman, JPMorgan, Nomura, Bank of America, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, ” Locations: Wells Fargo, rebalance

The Federal Reserve is likely to wait longer than initially expected to cut interest rates given stubborn inflation readings in recent months, the central bank’s top two officials said Tuesday. Policymakers came into 2024 looking for evidence that inflation was continuing to cool rapidly, as it did late last year. Instead, progress on inflation has stalled or even reversed by some measures. But he stopped short of saying he expected rates will need to stay at their current levels, 5.3 percent, deep into this year. Last month, Fed officials indicated that they expect to cut rates three times by the end of 2024.

Persons: ” Jerome H, Powell, Philip N, Jefferson Organizations: Federal Locations: Washington

☆ Here’s what would happen to the US economy if there are no rate cuts this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

That’s why Fed Chair Powell conveyed on Tuesday the central bank won’t be cutting interest rates any time soon. How would the US economy handle more months of painstakingly high interest rates? Investors are banking on cutsWhen Fed officials initially penciled in three rate cuts at the end of last year, markets hit new highs. But the longer the Fed leaves interest rates higher means more pain could be inflicted on households and businesses, said Goldstein. But not everyone thinks cracks in the economy will widen if the Fed doesn’t cut rates this year.

Persons: Powell, ” Powell, paring, Itay Goldstein, Tesla, Goldstein, ”, Brian Rose, David Mericle, Goldman Sachs Organizations: New, New York CNN — Federal Reserve, Bank of Canada, Tiff, Investors, Dow, Nasdaq, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, CNN, Fed, Treasury, UBS Global Wealth Management Locations: New York

☆ Bank of England to Overhaul Its Forecasting After Inflation Surprises
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Eshe Nelson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Bank of England said on Friday that it would overhaul the way it forecasts its outlook for the British economy as part of a “once-in-a-generation” review of its process after it was criticized for underestimating inflation. After a few turbulent years — which included a pandemic, the war in Ukraine and a surge in inflation — the central bank was accused of bungling its economic forecasts. It has since set out to find ways to convey more clearly what it thinks will happen to economic growth and inflation, especially in times of high economic uncertainty. “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to update our approach, in a world that, I’m afraid, remains highly uncertain,” said Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England. The bank asked a former Federal Reserve chair, Ben S. Bernanke, to lead the review.

Persons: ”, Andrew Bailey, Ben S, Bernanke Organizations: of England, Bank of England, Federal Reserve Locations: Ukraine

☆ Dow tumbles more than 300 points on fears of potential attack by Iran and inflation woes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —US stocks slid Friday morning as Wall Street worried about escalating tension in the Middle East and sticky inflation. The US and Israel are on alert for a potential attack by Iran or its proxies after an Israeli strike in Damascus last week. The price of the most actively traded gold futures contract rose to roughly $2,432 a troy ounce. Elsewhere, fresh data showed that Americans’ attitudes toward the economy have dampened over the past few months as inflation stays stubborn. The University of Michigan’s latest consumer survey showed that sentiment largely held steady in April, according to a preliminary reading released Friday.

Persons: Dow, JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, ” Dimon Organizations: New, New York CNN, Nasdaq, Texas, Energy, Federal Reserve, JPMorgan, JPMorgan Chase, University of Michigan’s Locations: New York, Israel, Iran, Damascus, Gaza, Ukraine

☆ E.C.B. Holds Rates Steady as Markets Look for Hints on First Cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Eshe Nelson | More About Eshe Nelson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The European Central Bank held interest rates steady on Thursday, keeping the deposit rate at 4 percent, the highest in central bank’s history. It was the fifth consecutive decision to leave rates untouched as inflation closes in on the central bank’s 2 percent target. Central bankers have been trying to work out the delicate timing of when to loosen their rate policy. They don’t want to keep rates higher longer than necessary, which could hurt the economies of the eurozone, but at the same time, they don’t want to ease too early and revive price pressures. In March, core inflation slowed more than economists expected, to 2.9 percent.

Organizations: European Central Bank

☆ The Fed might not be done raising interest rates just yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Inflation slowed substantially in 2023 as the Fed lifted rates to nearly a quarter-century high and held them at that level since July. Still, most Fed officials have signaled that they plan to cut rates this year if the economy evolves as expected. And if the inflation situation worsens even further, the Fed may even have to consider raising rates. Like Bowman and Kashkari, New York Fed President John Williams said rate hikes aren’t part of his baseline outlook. The timing of that first rate cut is critical because if the Fed cuts too soon, it risks locking in inflation at a high level.

Persons: hasn’t, Michelle Bowman, Neel Kashkari, Bowman, John Williams, he’s, ” Williams, Williams, Jerome Powell, Susan Collins, ” Collins, Powell, Larry Summers, ” Summers, Summers, Goldman Sachs, ” Organizations: CNN, Wall, Federal Reserve, ” Minneapolis, Kashkari , New York Fed, Boston, CPI, Bloomberg, UBS, Barclays, Bank of America Locations: Kashkari , New

☆ 3 things rattling markets this week
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The S&P 500 tumbled the first two trading days of the new quarter and is down 0.8% for the week after paring back some of its losses on Wednesday. Some Fed officials revealed at the central bank’s policy meeting last month that they see fewer rate cuts than the three they forecast last December for 2024. Traders see a 63% expectation that the Fed cuts rates in June, a drop from more than 70% a week earlier, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. “With Middle East tensions on the rise, OPEC+ supply side measures have pushed crude oil volatility down,” BofA strategists wrote in a Wednesday report. “Adding to a complex backdrop, we now estimate that improving economic growth expectations have helped push global oil markets into a deficit.”The price of gold has also climbed this week.

Persons: New York CNN — Stocks, “, ”, Brent Schutte, Jerome Powell, •, Loretta Mester, Raphael Bostic, Brent, Michael Shvartsman, Gerald Shvartsman, Donald Trump’s, Matt Egan, “ Michael, ” Damian Williams, Bruce Garelick, ” Williams, ” Read, Joe Biden, Sean Lyngaas, China Nicholas Burns, Antony Blinken, Read Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN —, Treasury, FactSet, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management, Hawkish, San Francisco Fed, Stanford University, Wednesday, • Cleveland Fed, Atlanta Fed, CNBC, Traders, Organization of, Petroleum, West Texas, Brent, Bank of America, Trump Media, Trump Media & Technology Group, DWAC, Southern, of, Acquisition Corporation, “, Microsoft, US, Department of Homeland Security, CNN Locations: New York, OPEC, Florida, of New York, Washington, China

☆ Inflation Cools in Eurozone, Nearing Central Bank’s Target
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Melissa Eddy | More About Melissa Eddy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The annual inflation rate across most economies in Europe eased for the third month in a row, nearing the target set by the European Central Bank. The rate was slightly lower than economists expected and brought overall inflation closer to the 2 percent target set by the E.C.B., which will hold its next meeting to set interest rates on April 11. The central bank also keeps a close eye on core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy prices. That dipped to 2.9 percent in the year through March in the eurozone, ticking below the 3-percent mark for the first time since Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine broke out in February 2022, driving up energy prices. Germany, the eurozone’s largest economy, saw consumer prices rise at an annual rate of 2.3 percent in March, its slowest inflation since June 2021.

Organizations: European Central Bank, Consumer, European Union, Ukraine Locations: Europe, Germany

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