A price index measuring household consumption prices.
OnePlus has announced it will stop launching new phones in Europe and North America and will focus new device rollouts on India and China. The parent company Oppo has begun a corporate restructuring as memory-chip shortages and rising component costs have cut demand for budget phones and pushed manufacturers to prioritise AI-oriented high-bandwidth memory.
The Social Security retirement fund is projected to exhaust its reserves by 2032. A bipartisan push seeks solutions to extend solvency, with proposals including PROMISE and Social Security 2100 Act. COLA trends show adjustments for 2027 and beyond amid inflation.
The new government is implementing a VAT cut on electricity bills and a 2 bus fare cap, funded by redirecting savings from a scrapped digital ID programme. Officials say the measures will reduce household costs, while ministers debate expanding the personal allowance. Updates indicate the plan is moving ahead despite questions about funding and timing.
The economy has shown resilience as consumer spending rises while the Fed’s preferred inflation measure remains above target. GDP growth has decelerated from earlier in the year, and rate expectations remain uncertain amid energy price volatility tied to Middle East tensions.
The Bank of England has kept Bank Rate at 3.75% in a split MPC vote as rising energy prices linked to Middle East tensions threaten inflation. Six members vote to hold, three call for a hike to 4%. Inflation is expected to rise later this year before easing toward the target.
Global stocks have rallied this month after officials reported progress in talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and a string of strong corporate earnings has bolstered investor sentiment. Treasuries and oil prices have fallen as traders pare back expectations for near-term Fed hikes; strategists warn valuations and one-off earnings boosts limit further upside.
The Federal Reserve has kept the benchmark rate steady in a nine-to-three vote, amid persistent inflation above the 2% goal. Dissenters argue for earlier tightening, while others urge patience; investors await July inflation data to gauge the path for policy.
U.S. markets edge lower after several sessions of gains as investors await the PCE inflation update. The latest data show persistent inflation and higher government borrowing costs, with bond yields climbing and stock indices uneven.
Oil prices have climbed with Brent above $95 and WTI near $93 as fighting in the Middle East continues to disrupt shipping routes. Analysts say supply fears and demand shifts, particularly from China, are shaping the rally. Markets are also awaiting inflation data and policy signals as bond yields rise globally.
Global government bond yields have risen to multi‑decade highs this week after renewed US–Iran fighting pushed oil toward $90–$97 a barrel and revived inflation fears. Governments from the UK to the US and Japan have paid higher borrowing costs; central banks are signalling tighter policy and markets are pricing more rate rises, lifting mortgage and corporate loan rates.
The Independent reports a proposed, ongoing plan to boost Social Security benefits for most current beneficiaries, alongside changes to how future COLAs are calculated. The plan, part of Sanders’s Social Security Expansion Act, would tax earnings above $250,000 and is described as a response to long-term insolvency concerns facing the program. No start date is set, as the measure remains a proposal awaiting congressional action.
Oil prices have risen above $108 a barrel as Middle East tensions escalate, with markets watching U.S. inflation data and the Federal Reserve meeting. Global stock indices are mixed, and Treasuries remain volatile as energy costs weigh on households and corporate margins.
The US labor market has expanded in August, with 162,000 jobs added and the unemployment rate steady at 4.1%. Revisions to June and July numbers lift the three-month payroll gain, while gains are led by local government education and bars/restaurants. The data points to a persistent-but-modest hiring pace amid geopolitical strain and AI-related changes.
A run of fresh data shows the UK labour market remains resilient despite signs of cooling. Payrolls edge down; unemployment holds at 4.9%; wage growth remains mixed across private and public sectors, with vacancies at a post-pandemic low.
The Federal Reserve has raised rates by a quarter-point to 3.75%-4% in a unanimous decision. CPI data show a 5.9% monthly jump in wireless bills, contributing to higher core inflation. Analysts say the move is aimed at cooling inflation, while households face higher borrowing costs.
The latest BEA data indicate the core PCE price index has cooled to a 3% annual pace, with monthly gains easing to 0.2%–0.3% in recent readings. Analysts say the Fed’s path remains uncertain as inflation cools but stays above target.
The America.gov platform has used AI to answer government-service questions and has debunked some of Trump’s past claims, but responses have varied and sometimes refused to address political questions. The rollout shows guardrails influencing outputs, with later replies avoiding political commentary while still contradicting some claims in other instances.
The Social Security Administration has announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027, with a monthly average increase of about $75 for beneficiaries. The change comes as inflation persists and as discussions continue about long‑term funding, including a potential 2027 wage base raise to $192,300. Beneficiaries are being notified, and the move aims to improve financial stability amid rising costs.
Consumer prices have continued to rise, with CPI up 0.6% in September and the year-over-year rate at 3.7%. Core inflation has accelerated to 2.6%, driven by gasoline and energy costs amid ongoing global tensions. The data increase the likelihood of further Federal Reserve rate hikes.