WSJ Economy

Boston Federal Reserve President Susan Collins said she envisions a prolonged stretch of steady interest rates, and could envision a scenario that requires some policy tightening to ensure inflation returns to the central bank’s 2% target.

Prices charged by producers rose by 1.4% in April from the month before, blowing past March’s 0.7% increase, according to the Labor Department’s producer-price index.

Rising employment—partly from people working longer—has accounted for about half of the growth recorded in the eurozone since the third quarter of 2023.

Americans’ hourly wages are up. The problem? Inflation is up even more.

Investors at the start of this year were pricing in Federal Reserve rate cuts. Those are all but off the table for now.

Australia’s treasurer touted the latest budget as reform-focused and the most ambitious in a generation. Economists hope that he is proven right.

The result—a third negative reading in a row—was better than economists polled by The Wall Street Journal expected.

The latest budget contains tentative steps toward long-awaited economic reform, while providing cost-of-living relief and boosting fuel security as the Iran war threatens international supply.

Confidence inched higher in April, though sentiment continues to be hampered by rising cost pressures.

The People’s Bank of China said in its first-quarter monetary policy report that imported inflation risks require “close monitoring.”

The Senate took another procedural step toward confirming Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chair.

A state known for billionaires and high-tech jobs depends on lower-paying health work to boost its labor market.

Market participants appear undaunted by the risk of accelerated inflation from the Middle East conflict, and remain convinced the Bank of Canada won’t budge on interest rates until next year, according to a survey.

The Conference Board’s Employment Trends Index rose to 105.77 in April, from a downwardly revised reading of 105.52 in March.

Existing-home sales edged up 0.2%, well below economist expectations and extending the industry’s long slump.

Prime Minister Modi asked citizens to avoid buying gold jewelry for functions, coming as the country’s appetite for the precious metal continues to drive foreign-currency spending.

The producer price index climbed 2.8% in April from a year earlier, driven by higher global crude prices.

Industries that heavily employ men are losing jobs, and the share of men working has flatlined.

Rent, food and other costs are cheaper than the national average. A duplex boom is attracting middle-income earners to the Midwestern city.

The U.S. lost much of its furniture industry to China years ago. Now, American tariffs and overseas competition are punishing manufacturers.