Friday, April 28, 2023

The Daily Money: When will prices for goods go down?

As inflation cools, some companies say they will stop or slow the rate of price increases.
Read in browser
 

The Daily Money

ALL THE MONEY NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Fri Apr 28 2023

 

We made it to Friday, Daily Money readers! It's Amanda Pérez Pintado with today's top headlines.

Consumers have, so far, continued spending despite price hikes. But there's good news for shoppers.

As inflation cools and consumers push back against higher prices, some companies say they will stop or slow the rate of price increases . Coca-Cola, for instance, expects to slow price increases this year, and Chipotle plans to pause price hikes. 

And more companies could follow suit, according to Matt Kramer, national sector leader of consumer and retail for KPMG.

Key inflation measure eases in March

An inflation measure watched closely by the Federal Reserve cooled last month. 

Consumer prices increased 4.2% in March from a year earlier, down from 5.1% in February, according to the Commerce Department. 

A  measure of prices that excludes volatile food and energy items ticked up 0.3%, in line with the rise the previous month.

📰 More stories you shouldn't miss 📰

Employees were promised equal opportunity. Federal contractors are failing.

🍔 Today's Menu 🍔

Canned Wendy's chili: You can soon get Wendy's famous homestyle chili at the grocery store. Wendy's Chili with Beans will hit shelves with a suggested retail price of $4.99 per can.

About The Daily Money 

Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer news from USA TODAY. We break down financial news and provide the TLDR version: how decisions by the Federal Reserve, government and companies impact you.

Oregon lawmakers are considering a ban on foam food containers.

The Oregon bill would phase out polystyrene foam dishware, packing peanuts and coolers. It would also ban PFAS in food packaging.

Advertisement

Security guards let individuals enter the Silicon Valley Bank's headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., March 13, 2023.
 

Fed didn't act forcefully or rapidly to prevent SVB collapse, Fed report says

Fed didn't move forcefully enough to prevent Silicon Valley Bank collapse, Fed report says. As SVB grew rapidly, Fed was slow to identify risks

Black and Hispanic talent missing at the top, concentrated at bottom of nation's top companies
 

Federal contractors made diversity pledges. Most of them are failing.

Federal contractors who employ 1 in 5 Americans are required to give women and people of color opportunities to advance. Many do not, new data shows.

The hopes that inflation might soon moderate were dashed when the consumer price index for April rose 8.3% compared to last year. The producer price index for   April confirmed   this further. It rose 11% compared to the same month last year. The PPI measures input costs, or wholesale prices, from the point of view of producers.    The prices of a very few items in the CPI have actually fallen over the past several months. At the top of this list - the price of food service at schools is   plunging (down 43% in April compared with last year), as did the price of food service at businesses (down 30%). In each case, the fact that so many Americans work or attend school from home is likely the cause.    The American consumer is caught in a vice. To a large extent, inflation has been caused by upward pressure on oil prices due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The war also affects wheat supplies. COVID-19 infections, which have raced through China's two largest cities and shuttered factories, have exacerbated global supply chain problems. (   These are the metros where families pay the least for food   .)    The Federal Reserve has been called upon, for decades, to help steer   the economy between inflation and recession. The Fed does so by setting interest rates and buying bonds. Recently, it has been credited with helping drag the U.S. out of The Great Recession and the COVID-19-driven economic downturn. To accomplish these things, the Fed has kept interest rates near historic lows. This, in turn, has helped consumers with major purchases like homes.     The need for Fed action has changed course, almost overnight, however. Rampant inflation has forced the Fed to raise rates, and it may further raise rates by as much as half a percentage four or five times this year. There is even talk about the possibility of a 0.75 point bump. And if rates are raised too   aggressively, the economy could fall into a recession. (   This is the city with the cheapest groceries in every state   .)    To determine the consumer activity that is plunging in price, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on the consumer price index for all urban consumers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
 

Lower food and energy prices slow inflation in March

Inflation slowed again March, according to the Fed's preferred measure of price increases. But the PCE index showed core prices stayed high.

File photo taken in 2014 shows the logo of a U.S. fast food giant McDonald's at a company location in Paris, France.
 

Amid rising prices for goods, consumers ask: When will it stop?

As inflation begins to plateau, some companies say they will stop or slow the rate of price increases.

To celebrate National Nurses Week, Chipotle is recognizing the healthcare community by awarding 2,000 medical professionals with 'Burrito Care Packages' featuring 50 entrée codes for their team, equivalent to over $1 million in free Chipotle.
 

Chipotle to give away 'Burrito Care Packages' for health care workers

Chipotle said 2,000 winners will get a "Burrito Care Package" to feed 50 people.

Bed Bath & Beyond store in Taylor, Michigan.
 

The Container Store, Big Lots to accept Bed Bath & Beyond coupons

The Container Store and Big Lots will accept Bed Bath & Beyond coupons for a limited time after the retailer filed for bankruptcy protection.

Shoppers at Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass in Simpsonville for Black Friday on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022.
 

Economy grew modestly in first quarter but a recession could be imminent

Forecasters say a recession could begin as soon as the current quarter. High interest rates and inflation are starting to curtail growth.

20. Facebook/Meta Platforms     • Fine or settlement amount:  $5,000,000,000     • Agency imposing fine:  FTC     • Reason:  Settlement of FTC charges it violated a 2012 order by deceiving users about their ability to control the privacy of their personal information
 

Can Facebook's Meta continue revenue growth?

Following three quarters in a row of year-over-year revenue declines, Meta's first-quarter revenue growth rate turned positive.

A new Walt Disney World oversight board installed by Gov. Ron DeSantis accuses the company of a double-cross, but Disney says all agreements were above board and took place in public.
 

Disney v. DeSantis: The company sues claiming 'retaliatory' conduct

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, Disney says Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis orchestrated a 'targeted campaign of government retaliation' against the company.

Advertisement

 

Sign up for the news you want

Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don't miss out! We're always working to add benefits for subscribers like you.

SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS 

Newsletters   |    eNewspaper   |   Crosswords

Follow Us

Problem viewing email? View in browser

No comments:

Post a Comment

⭐ 10 "Poor Man" Recipes

Affordable meals you'll love!  ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ...