US consumer prices jumped 6.2% in past year, highest inflation rate since 1990

Driving the price spikes are supply shortages resulting from consumer demand and COVID-related factory shutdowns coming out of the pandemic recession.

11 Democratic lawmakers ask Biden to dip into Strategic Petroleum Reserve to alleviate gas price hike

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is stored in huge underground salt caverns at four sites along the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico and is the world’s largest supply of emergency crude oil.

October jobs report: US hiring rebounds with 531,000 jobs added

The October 2021 U.S. jobs report showed employers stepped up their hiring, adding a solid 531,000 jobs — the most since July.

Fed dialing back COVID-19 economic aid amid high inflation

In a statement Wednesday after its latest policy meeting, the Fed said it will start reducing its $120 billion in monthly bond purchases in the coming weeks, by $15 billion a month, though it reserved the right to change that pace.

Thanksgiving dinner may be more expensive as holiday staples in short supply

While most will likely be able to get their hands on a turkey for Thanksgiving this year, shoppers could be shelling out more cash for it as well as other holiday staples — largely due to supply chain bottlenecks.

US Treasury appoints 1st-ever counsel for racial equity

The Treasury Department has hired a former JPMorgan Chase executive to head a new government program aimed at combatting racial inequality issues in banking and other financial-services industries.

Fire on cargo ship off British Columbia coast reported out

Forty shipping containers are adrift in the Pacific Ocean after rough seas knocked them off of a ship just west of the Strait of Juan de Fuca entrance.

Fed sets new limits on policymakers' investments amid questionable trades

The Federal Reserve issued new restrictions on policymakers’ investments in response to questionable recent trades that forced two top officials to resign.

Climate change: US report targets economic risks from extreme weather

A new White House report addresses how the U.S. economy could be affected by climate change, including extreme heat, flooding, storms and wildfires.

Winter heating bills set to skyrocket as inflation hits home

With prices surging worldwide for heating oil, natural gas and other fuels, the U.S. government said Wednesday it expects households to see their heating bills jump as much as 54% compared to last winter.

US unemployment claims fall to lowest level of COVID-19 pandemic

U.S. unemployment claims dropped 36,000 to 293,000 last week, the lowest level since the start of the pandemic, the Labor Department said.

Port of Los Angeles going 24/7 to ease shipping backlog, White House says

The Port of Los Angeles will become a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week operation to help relieve supply chain bottlenecks and move stranded container ships.