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Fed policymakers have been spooked by a lack of sustained progress in moving inflation up to the central bank's 2% target

Little indication of US inflation surge - Fed

The US economy continued to expand from mid-May through the end of June but there was little indication that inflation would surge any time soon, the Federal Reserve has said.

Business • 13 Jul 16

Non-farm payrolls increased by 287,000 jobs last month, the largest gain since last October, the US Labour Department said

Manufacturing boosts US job growth in June

US job growth surged in June as manufacturing employment increased, more evidence the economy has regained speed after a first-quarter lull.

Business • 12 Jul 16

US non-farm payrolls increased by only 38,000 jobs last month, the smallest gain since September 2010

US job growth brakes sharply in May

The US economy created the fewest number of jobs in more than five years in May, hurt by a strike by Verizon workers and a fall in goods producing employment.

Business • 03 Jun 16

Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, surged 1% in April

US consumer spending surges in April

US consumer spending recorded its biggest increase in more than six years in April and inflation rose steadily, new figures show today.

Business • 31 May 16

That view, expressed by most Fed policymakers at the last policy meeting, suggests the central bank is much closer to lifting rates again than Wall Street expects

US Federal Reserve may raise rates in June

The Federal Reserve will likely raise interest rates in June if economic data points to stronger second-quarter growth as well as firming inflation and employment, according to minutes from the US central bank's April policy meeting released today.

Business • 18 May 16

US gross domestic product increased at a 0.5% annual rate in the first quarter of 2016

US economy stalls in Q1 as activity weakens

US economic growth braked sharply to its slowest pace in two years as consumer spending softened and a strong dollar continued to undercut exports.

Business • 28 Apr 16

The US Federal Reserve has cut back on its planned interest rate increases for 2016

US Federal Reserve holds interest rates again

The US Federal Reserve has kept interest rates unchanged but signalled confidence in the US economic outlook, leaving the door open to a hike in June.

Business • 27 Apr 16

Fed members said they were concerned that rates were still so low that the bank had limited firepower to respond to shocks

US Federal Reserve worried about global growth

US Federal Reserve policymakers debated last month whether an interest rate hike would be needed in April though a consensus emerged that risks from a global economic slowdown warranted a cautious approach.

Business • 07 Apr 16

The G20 meeting acknowledged that monetary policy alone is not enough to combat rising global risk

Central banks near policy limits but back in focus

The widely predicted failure of G20 leaders to agree on bold new steps to reinvigorate the world economy at a meeting in Shanghai this weekend puts the onus back on central bankers.

Business • 29 Feb 16

Policy makers discussed altering their earlier views of the appropriate path for the target range for the federal funds rate

US Fed worried about global market impact on US

US Federal Reserve policy makers worried last month that tighter global financial conditions could hit the US economy and considered changing their planned path of interest rate hikes in 2016.

Business • 17 Feb 16

US GDP increased at a 0.7% annual rate in the three months from October to December

US economic growth slows to 0.7% rate in Q4

US economic growth slowed sharply in the fourth quarter as businesses stepped up efforts to reduce an inventory glut and a strong dollar and tepid global demand weighed on exports.

Business • 29 Jan 16

The Fed removed a previous reference from its statement to the risks of the economic outlook being balanced

US Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged

The US Federal Reserve has kept interest rates unchanged and said it was "closely monitoring" global economic and financial developments, but maintained an otherwise upbeat view of the US economy.

Business • 27 Jan 16

US petrol prices fell 9% in September, the biggest drop since January

Petrol affecting US consumer prices, jobless falls

US consumer prices recorded their biggest drop in eight months in September as the cost of petrol fell.

Business • 15 Oct 15

US personal consumption expenditures (PCE) rose 0.4% in August

US consumer income, spending up in August

US consumer spending grew solidly in August despite stock market turbulence which some worried would spook shoppers, while prices remained subdued, Commerce Department data showed today.

Business • 28 Sep 15

US GDP rose at a 3.9% annual pace in the three months from April to June, up from 3.7% reported earlier

US second quarter GDP growth revised upwards

The US economy expanded more than previously estimated in the second quarter on stronger consumer spending and construction, the second upward revision in a row.

Business • 25 Sep 15

US petrol prices fell 4.1% last month - the biggest drop since January

US consumer prices post first decline in 7 months

US consumer prices unexpectedly fell in August as petrol prices resumed their decline and a strong dollar curbed the cost of other goods.

Business • 16 Sep 15

An IMF spokesperson suggested there was still time to wait for the Fed before taking the first step

Fed can delay raising interest rates - IMF.

The IMF has said the US Federal Reserve has the room to hold off from raising interest rates for the moment amid a "pretty bumpy" global economic situation.

Business • 08 Sep 15

Stanley Fischer said it was 'too early to tell' whether markets turmoil sparked by China has lessened the argument for an increase in the federal funds rate

No decision yet on raising US interest rate - Fed

US Federal Reserve Vice Chair Stanley Fischer has said no decision had been made yet on raising interest rates at the US central bank's September 16-17 policy meeting.

Business • 28 Aug 15

The Federal Reserve had been expected to raise interest rates in September - but some think that it may now wait until December

Conditions for rate hike 'approaching' - US Fed

The US Federal Reserve saw economic conditions "approaching" the point of being able to weather an increase in near-zero interest rates at July's policy meeting, a Fed report has said.

Business • 20 Aug 15

A number of Federal Reserve policymakers have pointed towards a decision in September

US rate rise should come soon - Fed policymaker

Economic conditions in the United States have largely returned to normal and a Federal Reserve decision to raise interest rates should come soon, Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart has said.

Business • 11 Aug 15

US GDP fell at a 0.2% annual rate in the first quarter instead of the 0.7% pace of contraction reported last month

US Q1 GDP revised to show slight contraction

The US economy contracted slightly in the first quarter as it struggled with bad weather, a strong dollar, spending cuts in the energy sector and disruptions at West Coast ports.

Business • 24 Jun 15

The US economy is set to grow by between 1.8% and 2% this year, according to the Federal Reserve

US economy 'growing moderately' - Federal Reserve

The US economy is growing moderately after a winter swoon and likely strong enough to support an interest rate increase by the end of the year, US Federal Reserve officials have indicated.

Business • 17 Jun 15

Most participants at the US Federal Reserve meeting expected the country's economy to pick up pace

US Fed interest rate hike 'unlikely' in June

Many officials at the US Federal Reserve's April policy meeting believed it would be premature to raise interest rates in June and that a bump in inflation was being offset by a weaker labour market and softer data, according to minutes from the meeting released this evening.

Business • 20 May 15

Slow economic growth in the US may delay the Federal Reserve's decision to increase interest rates

Fed acknowledges weaknesses in US economy

The US Federal Reserve has pointed to weakness in the country’s labour market and economy, in a sign that the central bank is struggling to proceed with its plans to raise interest rates this year.

Business • 29 Apr 15

The US Federal Reserve's Beige Book said manufacturing demand had weakened as the dollar grew stronger

US economic activity continued to expand in March

US economic activity continued to expand from mid-February through the end of March, but a strong dollar and falling oil prices were hurting the manufacturing sector, the Federal Reserve has said.

Business • 15 Apr 15