• March 15, 2017
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The Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate 0.25%, and reaffirmed its forecast for three rate rises this year. The central bank cited continued expansion in the labor market, “solid” job gains, rising household spending and firming business fixed investment in its decision.

• March 25, 2017
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A renewed effort by Republicans to reform the Federal Reserve will kick off next week. House Republicans have been pressing to reform the Fed since taking control of the chamber in 2010 but have yet to succeed in the face of opposition from Democrats and the Obama White House. This time might be different now

• March 28, 2017
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U.S. house prices roared to their highest in nearly three years as demand remains hot, especially in the west. The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index rose 5.7% in the three-month period ending in January compared to the same period a year ago, an acceleration from its 5.5% yearly increase in December. The 20-city index was up 0.2%

• April 8, 2017
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Leaving everything to the last minute can cost you money I get it. Doing your taxes is no fun, especially if you know you’re going to owe money. But as with any project on which you procrastinate, leaving everything to the last minute can lead to errors, both large and small, and some of those

• April 13, 2017
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U.S. inflation at the wholesale level fell in March for the first time in seven months, owing to lower costs for services such as investment advice as well as cheaper fuel for cars and homes. The producer price index slipped 0.1% last month to mark the first decline since August.

• April 13, 2017
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Initial jobless claims were essentially unchanged at 234,000 in early April, holding near extremely low levels that show the U.S. labor market is going strong despite a slowdown in hiring last month.

• April 13, 2017
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A gauge of consumer sentiment improved in April, as most Americans were upbeat about current conditions, although the partisan divide about the outlook for the economy remains stark. Consumer sentiment rose to 98 in a preliminary April reading, compared with March’s final result of 96.0.

• April 13, 2017
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Rates for home loans fell in line with Treasury yields, nudging mortgage rates to the lowest level of the year. The 10-year Treasury yield fell five basis points during the week as investors continue to re-assess the expectations for fiscal stimulus and economic growth that followed the November election even as fresh geopolitical worries flared.

• April 14, 2017
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The cost of goods and services for American consumers fell in March for the first time in more than a year, reflecting a decline in gasoline prices that’s put a halt for now to rising inflation. The consumer price index, or cost of living, fell by a seasonally adjusted 0.3% last month. Economists had forecast

• April 14, 2017
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Sales at U.S. retailers fell in March for the second month in a row, marking the worst two-month stretch in two years. Sales at retailers nationwide declined 0.2% last month, a touch less than the 0.3% drop forecast.