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US inflation continues to slow, opening the door for Fed rate cuts.

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Eric Thayer / Bloomberg via Getty Images file

(VOR News) – Considering that prices stopped rising more than expected in June, the inflation Federal Reserve may be able to lower interest rates.

These rates affect many financial goods, such as mortgages and credit card payments. We now have yet another sign that inflation has stopped.

There was a 3% year-over-year rise in the Consumer Price Index in June. This was less than the 3.3% annual rate seen in the previous month. Prices fell by 0.1% from May to June.

This is the first time the monthly number has dropped by a large amount since May 2020, when the epidemic was just starting.

There are more whispers that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates in September after a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday.

Voters would feel a little better about this before the election in November, which both parties think could be affected by how people feel about the economy.

Before the report came out on Thursday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell spoke to Congress this week. Before he made any changes, he was aware of the risks that came with keeping interest rates high for a long time. He did say, though, that he wanted to get “more good data” on inflation.

The report that came out on Thursday and was surprisingly strong may be able to do this.

“Core” inflation between May and June.

Which doesn’t include changes in food and energy inflation prices, which rose by just 0.1%, which was the smallest monthly gain since January 2021.

The price of gas went down by 3.8% and the price of used cars went down by 1.5%. It was only a 0.2% rise in the cost of living in June, even though it has been a major cause of rising prices for several months.

At its annual meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in August, the Federal Reserve may hint at an upcoming policy change. This is true even though it is very unlikely that officials from the Federal Reserve will make any changes to the interest rate when they meet later this month.

The Federal Reserve has been under pressure to lower inflation and interest rates for a while now, even though the job market has been slowly getting worse. At 4.1%, the jobless rate is the highest it has been since the end of the epidemic.

This number hasn’t been seen since February 2018, except for when more jobs are expected to be lost in 2020.

Even though the jobless rate is still at an all-time low, the fact that it has been going up for three months in a row is causing more and more worry, even though many economists have been less worried about a recession since last year.

In a note posted on Substack last week, Guy Berger, director of economic research at the Burning Glass Institute (a research firm that studies how people can move up in the economy), said that the job market has been going down since the spring of 2022 without going into a recession.

“We’re not at the tipping point into recession yet, but I don’t have a lot of confidence about the distance from that tipping point.”

Interest rates are one way that the Federal Reserve can control the rate of inflation economic growth. The federal funds rate is about 5.5% right now, which is the highest it has been since before the 2008 financial crisis. By keeping interest rates high, the Federal Reserve has tried to lower the general demand for borrowing money to buy goods and services.

This has prevented prices from going up too much. In most cases, the higher rates have worked out correctly.

The inflation rate reached 9.1% in June 2022.

Since then, it has dropped significantly, but it has stayed around 3% throughout the year. Powell told Congress this week that people’s views about inflation are still “anchored,” which means there is only a small chance that prices will start to rise again. Furthermore, he said that “modest” work has been made toward the 2% goal.

Economists think that the fact that many customers’ financial situations have gotten worse since the start of the epidemic recovery is a big reason.

As the report is set to come out on Thursday, Sarah House, an economist at Wells Fargo, said in a note released this week that “increasingly cost-conscious consumers are also likely to limit the extent of price increases across the service sector.”

Reason for this is that it is getting harder to keep prices from going up because input costs, especially labor, are going up less quickly.

Some experts and lawmakers on the left say that the Federal Reserve has already put off lowering interest rates for too long. Ian Shepherdson, the Chief Economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, warned in a recent report that the central bank “will be rushing to stop a major downturn.”

SOURCE | NBC

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Salman Ahmad is a seasoned freelance writer who contributes insightful articles to VORNews. With years of experience in journalism, he possesses a knack for crafting compelling narratives that resonate with readers. Salman's writing style strikes a balance between depth and accessibility, allowing him to tackle complex topics while maintaining clarity.

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King Charles Could Millions Annually from Renting His Properties

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Estimated Annual Rental Income of £1.4 Million

A recent analysis suggests that King Charles might earn over £1 million each year by renting out royal properties to holidaymakers.

The Royal Family’s historic houses and mansions are popular holiday rentals, contributing significantly to the Palace’s revenue.

Pikl Insurance estimates that the royals may earn up to £118,775.85 per month, or around £1,425,310.20 per year, from their holiday rental portfolio. Even after accounting for cancellations, the monarchy is anticipated to generate a net annual income of somewhat more over £1.4 million.

Estimated Annual Rental Income of £1.4 Million

The four primary royal properties accepting public bookings are Balmoral Castle, Castle of Mey’s Captain House, Restormel Manor, and Dumfries House, according to Express.co.uk. Cottages at Balmoral Castle in Scotland are expected to generate £36,798.30 per month after accounting for cancellations.

According to the numbers, the 500-year-old Restormel Manor in Cornwall is the most profitable of them all, earning a solid £47,082 every month. The resort, located in the Fowey Valley, has four booking spaces and six converted barns.

Windsor Castle

Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, adds an estimated £31,185.63 and offers 25 rooms for booking. The Castle of Mey’s Captain House in the Scottish Highlands is estimated to generate a more modest £3,709.92 per month, despite the fact that the entire property is available for booking.

The analysts stated, “While the Royal Family’s primary role is undoubtedly to serve the nation, it is clear that their properties are also a valuable asset.” These estimates highlight the royal estate’s considerable financial potential and provide an intriguing peek into the monarchy’s corporate operations.”

Royal Family received £86.3 million from the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant in the previous fiscal year, according to official numbers released in July.

All revenues from the Crown Estate, which includes royal households, forestry, agriculture, and offshore wind, are paid directly to the Treasury, with a portion of this money, now 12%, returned to the Royal Family to finance their tasks.

The records also cover a period of jubilation, including the coronation and festivities surrounding the King and Queen’s crowning in May of last year.

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Man Creates Candy Cane Car to Spread Christmas Cheer

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Man Creates Candy Cane Car Spread Christmas Cheer
Clayman in his Grinch costume poses with his Candy Cane Car

In a delightful display of holiday spirit, a local resident in North Providence, Maine, has transformed his vehicle into a candy cane delight that is capturing hearts and spreading Christmas Cheer.

Over the past 15 years, Dave Clayman has transformed a simple 1991 Toyota Camry into a rolling holiday icon that captivates everyone who encounters it.

It’s wrapped in $3,000 worth of reflective tape, the same kind used on trailer trucks. Whether parked at a mall or cruising down the highway, you can’t miss it with its candy cane decorations.

This whimsical project started with an unusual idea. When an old exercise bike landed in Clayman’s possession, he mounted it on top of his car instead of letting it gather dust in his garage.

“There’s nothing like working out in the fresh air,” Dave said. That quirky addition quickly drew eyes, inspiring him to keep going.

The car features homemade rockets built from trash cans and salad bowls, candy cane-themed hubcaps, and candy cane lights dangling from the mounted exercise bike.

Man Creates Candy Cane Car Spread Christmas Cheer

The Candy Cane Car cost Clayman $3,000

To top it off, it boasts a PA system and a custom horn, making it a true sensory experience.

The candy cane car has now become a local landmark every Christmas. Parked outside Clayman’s house, it’s a favourite backdrop for people snapping photos or simply stopping to admire it.

Some visitors even share stories of seeing the car as a child, reminiscing about how it’s been a beloved part of their neighbourhood for years.

“When people see it, their mood amplifies,” Clayman explained. “If they’re happy, they become happier. If they’re upset, well, they sometimes get angrier.” But for the most part, he estimates that over 96% of people love the festive car, particularly around Christmas.

Clayman said he used to wear a Santa costume when riding in his festive car for years. A few years ago, he bought a Grinch costume and never looked back.

“It’s like a state of euphoria. Every time I get behind the wheel and people see it,” he said. “Anything that people are in a better mood, it seems to make you in a better mood. It’s a labor of love you got to be committed to it.”

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Senate Approves Social Security Fairness Act, Heads to Final Vote

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Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/TNS

(VOR News) – On Wednesday, the United States Senate Social Security passed a measure with a vote of 73-27, indicating that the legislation, which is co-sponsored by Senator Susan Collins of Maine, is likely to be implemented before the end of the year.

The law may be beneficial to personnel working in the public sector in Maine, including teachers, firefighters, and other workers.

The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal two restrictions that lower the amount of Social Security payments paid to public employees.

These regulations would be eliminated with the passage of the act. A provision known as the Windfall Elimination Provision makes it impossible for public employees who are currently receiving pensions to continue receiving them.

The Government Pension Offset, as it is commonly referred to, is designed to limit the amount of money that can be paid to the surviving spouses of recipients who are also receiving government pensions.

This problematic situation impacts Social Security benefits.”

In November 2024, the Social Security Administration reported that more than 2 million individuals, including more than 20,000 in the state of Maine, had their Social Security benefits reduced as a result of the Windfall Elimination Provision,” Collins stated in a statement that was released by her department.

In November 2024, the Government Pension Offset had an impact on more than 650,000 individuals, with more than 6,000 of those individuals residing in the state of Maine, according to the previously mentioned line of reasoning.

A vote of 327 to 75 was necessary for the measure to be approved by the House of Representatives the previous month. On Wednesday, Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader of the Senate, announced that he intended to work rapidly in order to deliver the act from the House of Representatives to the president’s desk.

As indicated by Schumer, who was speaking on the floor of the United States Senate today, “Passing this Social Security fix right before Christmas would be a great gift for our retired firefighters, police officers, postal workers, teachers, and others who have contributed to Social Security for years but are now being penalised because of their time spent serving the public.”

In the beginning, the measure was supported by two individuals: Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, and Collins, a Republican. During her speech in support of the proposal, which was made on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday afternoon, Collins stated that the idea will have a significant impact on a number of individuals, including teachers in the state of Maine.

These advantages are the direct result of the effort that they put forth. During the course of her remarks, Collins asserted that the punishment in question was both unreasonable and unacceptable.

This will strain Social Security’s already shaky budget.

In a recent examination, it was discovered that the Windfall Elimination Provision was one of the primary problems that contributed to the difficulties that the teacher workforce in Maine is experiencing, which experts are referring to as a crisis.

A poll that was conducted and released by the non-profit organisation Educate Maine found that teachers in each and every county in the state of Maine identified the provision as a hindering factor in the process of recruiting new teachers.

According to the findings of the study, “this federal policy that reduces social security payouts is a disincentive,” which implies that it is detrimental to teachers who take on additional work and discourages people from switching careers in order to become teachers.

Sharon Gallant, a retired educator who worked in Gardiner for a total of 31 years, is one of the educators that are now employed there. Prior to beginning his career as a teacher in the public school system, Gallant was employed in the business sector. He made a little contribution to the Social Security system during the entirety of this time period.

“When you move into public education, you are faced with a certain degree of punishment,” according to her statement.

In letters that Gallant sent to Collins and to Sen. Angus King of Maine, who is an independent, he urged both of them to support the concept. She stated that even if it is unsuccessful, Maine will still have a difficult time recruiting teachers because of the clause that deters them from employment.

She made the observation, “If this does not pass, then it is just another reason not to enter public service.”

SOURCE: FR

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