Free Republic

Inflation in the Federal Reserve’s preferred price gauge eased in January after making steady increases throughout the fall. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index increased by 0.3 percent in January, easing to a 2.5-percent annual increase from 2.6 percent in December. The moves were in line with economists’ expectations. “This is about the only inflation indicator this month where the Fed can find some refuge,” Olu Sonola, economist with Fitch Ratings, wrote in an analysis. Concerns about resurgent inflation have been mounting after prices in both the PCE and the broader consumer price index (CPI) increased between September and...

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer confidence shot to the highest level in two years this month as inflationary pressures eased and the American economy continued to show resilience in the face of dramatically higher interest rates. The Conference Board, a business research group, said its consumer confidence index rose to 117 in July from a revised 110.1 in June. The gauge beat the 110.5 that economists had expected and was the highest since July 2021. The index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. Both improved in July. The future expectations...

JUST IN - Switzerland eases Covid restrictions "as we are about to enter the endemic phase," says Health Minister Berset. No more contact quarantine or home office requirements. Further steps (mask mandates, vaccine pass) are to follow in 2 weeks, pending further consultations. https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1488875889207263235

New York is easing some of its capacity restrictions but is still not allowing certain businesses to operate at 100 percent capacity, despite red states such as Florida and Texas doing so and continually reporting fewer new cases of the Chinese coronavirus per capita than the Empire State, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced on Monday.

The US Treasury Thursday eased restrictions on travel and money transfers to Cuba, a move aimed at promoting "greater contact between separated family members in the United States and Cuba." The move follows an April 13 announcement by President Barack Obama that Washington would lift curbs on travel and money transfers by Cuban-Americans to the island. The 47-year-old US economic embargo on Cuba however remains.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2008 – Violence has dropped in southern Iraq, but Iranian-influenced ”special groups” remain a concern, the commander of the U.S. brigade that provides theater security said today. Army Col. Charles Flynn spoke to Pentagon reporters via teleconference from his headquarters at Coalition Operating Base Adder at Talil Air Base near Nasiriyah, Iraq. The 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division has had the mission since July. The brigade ensures that the ground lines of communication and supply lines to multinational forces remain open. “We're not landowners per se, but our area of operations spans...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Two years after Columbia's demise, excitement over the space shuttle fleet's return to the skies in just a few short months is finally overtaking the agony of the accident. In the past few weeks, two special deliveries have boosted morale among shuttle workers and provided tangible evidence they are rounding the corner. One is a special tool to inspect the next shuttle while in orbit for any damage to its thermal-protective skin. The other is a brand new fuel tank guaranteed by NASA (news - web sites) not to shed big chunks of foam insulation that...