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Interest rates

Americans’ use of credit is growing, but slowing 

by Stephanie Hughes
Feb 8, 2023
In 2022, consumer credit increased 7.8% from the year before. But in December, the growth in borrowing decelerated.
Consumer credit increased 7.8% last year, according to recent Federal Reserve data. But some Americans appear to be getting more cautious about debt.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
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A strong dollar is hurting exports, helping imports and expanding the trade deficit

by Mitchell Hartman
Feb 7, 2023
The dollar's strong because the Federal Reserve's been raising interest rates.
American exports have been hurt by the slowing global economy and the strong dollar. Above, a container ship at Cuxhaven, Germany.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
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Have homebuyers adapted to higher interest rates?

by Amy Scott
Feb 2, 2023
Some analysts say acceptance plays a role in the recent increase of home sales.
Following mortgage rates north of 7% late last year, a 6% mortgage rate doesn't sound too shabby to some homebuyers.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
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Wage growth is slowing down. But is there an upside for workers?

by Justin Ho
Jan 31, 2023
Wages increased 1% in Q4. Inflation is also slowing. All that could impact whether — and by how much — the Fed hikes interest rates.
Wage growth slowed to 1% in Q4, but inflation has been slowing too.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
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Commercial lending is a mixed bag across the country, bankers say

by Justin Ho
Jan 24, 2023
In Southern California and South Carolina, businesses are looking for loans. But in the Midwest, owners are hesitant to borrow.
Banks across the country are reporting mixed lending activity, with some businesses borrowing to expand office space or buy new real estate.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
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How much should interest rates keep rising? Fed officials now disagree

by Nancy Marshall-Genzer
Jan 23, 2023
Some officials want a 0.75% rate hike at the next meeting. Others think a 0.5% increase is enough.
High-profile officials in the Federal Reserve System have offered differing attitudes toward future rate hikes following data that suggest a recent moderating of inflation.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
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Should the Federal Reserve slow interest rate hikes?

by Sabri Ben-Achour
Jan 19, 2023
We don’t yet know if the Fed's rate hikes have fully shown up in the economy. That could take many months.
For now, markets are assuming the Federal Reserve will ease up on rate hikes at its next meeting on Feb. 1.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
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Bank of Japan maintains its ultralow interest rate policy

by Lily Jamali
Jan 18, 2023
A lot of investors were betting that the Bank of Japan would join other central banks in hiking rates to beat back inflation.
Though some investors thought the Bank of Japan, seen above, would join other big central banks and push interest rates higher, it did not.
Richard A. Brooks/AFP via Getty Images
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Adventures in Housing

3 real estate agents on the cooling U.S. housing market

by Maria Hollenhorst
Jan 17, 2023
“I don’t know what this year is going to bring,” said one experienced Montana agent.
After a sizzling few years, there's a chill in the U.S. housing market, and mortgage rates have been volatile. Above, downtown Truckee, California.
Courtesy David Westall
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Are the latest consumer price index numbers a good sign for the economy?

by Justin Ho
Jan 12, 2023
Prices were up 6.5% over the past year, well above the Fed's targets but the smallest increase since October 2021. It's a sign that inflation is easing.
Shoppers are likely noticing the moderation in food price increases, said Morning Consult's Kayla Bruun.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
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