WSJ Economy

The central bank will likely will keep its main interest rate unchanged Wednesday, but there is growing doubt that officials can hold rates steady the longer energy prices remain elevated.

The headline index from the Conference Board’s survey rose to 92.8, versus 92.2 in March.

U.S. home-price growth slowed in February as affordability pressures shaped home buyer decisions.

Households expect consumer prices to rise by 4% over the next 12 months, a jump from the 2.5% seen in February, according to a survey.

Fed officials are set to hold rates steady this week. The harder question is whether to signal that cuts have been derailed, or just delayed.

Job losses almost doubled compared with the same period of 2025.

The Bank of Japan extended its rate pause but signaled that hikes are firmly on the table as it raised inflation forecasts.

With Kevin Warsh’s confirmation back on track, the last unresolved question is whether Powell will give up his seat on the Fed’s board next month.

Moody’s Ratings has upgraded China’s credit outlook to stable from negative, citing its economic and fiscal strength to navigate challenges at home and abroad.

The conflict in the Middle East dimmed income expectations and hopes for a tentative economic rebound this year amid surging energy prices.

Industrial profit surged 15.8% in March despite tighter global energy markets due to the conflict in the Middle East.

The wind-down of the investigation of the Fed chair could end an impasse that threatened to delay a leadership transition.

Canadians’ retail spending rebounded during the first quarter, highlighting consumer resilience that is likely to be tested by a jump in fuel costs.

A string of decisions by major central banks are due in the week ahead, including from the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan and the Bank of England.

Major companies are laying off thousands, but overall unemployment hasn’t budged. Even people with stable employment and high salaries are spooked.

Anxiety about the war in Iran has left Americans in the grimmest economic mood on record, according to the University of Michigan’s survey.

Companies are counting the cost of soaring energy prices driven by war in the Middle East and are increasingly pessimistic about the months ahead.

While the central bank remains committed to tightening, uncertainty around the conflict’s economic impact has forced policymakers to be even more cautious than usual.

Sentiment continued to tumble this month, with concerns mounting over the economy as tensions in the Middle East drag on.

Japan’s inflation picked up slightly in March as the impact of war in the Middle East fueled energy costs.