Is inflation getting worse?
Federal Reserve officials at a meeting last month pointed to rising risks that inflation could worsen, a key reason they kept their benchmark interest rate unchanged. According to minutes of the Jan. 28-29 meeting, which were released Wednesday, Fed officials said that President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs and mass deportations of migrants, as well as strong consumer spending, were factors that could push inflation higher this year. The Fed’s 19 officials who participate in its interest-rate decisions indicated that “they would want to see further progress on inflation before making” any further cuts. The Fed’s pause makes it less likely that borrowing costs for consumers, including for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards, will decline anytime soon. Just last week, the government released data that suggested inflation was actually getting worse, leading many economists to forecast just one — if any — rate cut this year. Consumer prices rose 3% in January from a year ago, the Labor Department said, up from a 3 1/2 year low of 2.4% last September. The Fed, however, more closely follows a separate inflation measure that shows inflation is closer to 2.5%.
Today on AirTalk, we’re discussing inflation. Why are prices continuing to go up? We’re joined by Nick Timiraos, chief economics correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, and Chris Thornberg, economist and founding partner at Beacon Economics.
With files from the Associated Press
What toy made the biggest impression on you growing up?
Toys come and go for kids. But there are some toys that hold a particularly special place in our heart, whether it brought comfort, long-lasting entertainment, or even the development of a special set of skills. A collection of beanie babies perfectly curated. A Lego set you built structures with day in and day out. Polly Pockets that felt like friends. A vintage train set that helped you travel to imaginary far-away lands. A Rubik’s Cube that made you a master of puzzles. We want to hear about the toy that made the biggest impression on you growing up and why. Call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
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TV Talk: ‘Zero Day,’ ‘Good Cop/Bad Cop,’ ‘Cobra Kai,’ and more
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