Surging oil price spurs worries of eventual stagflation during Iran war

U.S. consumers have felt a shock at the gas pump, with the average price for a gallon of regular gas jumping 16% during the past week to $3.48.

By Jim Tyson • March 9, 2026

Economy unexpectedly sheds 92,000 jobs as war spurs inflation worries

Shrinking payrolls prompted traders in interest rate futures to predict a faster pace of monetary policy easing.

By Jim Tyson • March 6, 2026

Costco to flow tariff refunds, ‘if and when’ received, back to customers

CEO Ron Vachris said Thursday that the retailer is committed to returning any potential refunds to its customers through “lower prices and better values.”

By Maura Webber Sadovi • March 6, 2026

Rising CEO, CFO optimism fuels business investment: AICPA survey

Expectations of lower borrowing costs and pro-growth economic policies this year have sparked optimism among top financial executives, according to a survey.

By Jim Tyson • March 5, 2026

Service sector grows at fastest pace since mid-2022: ISM

“The services sector is heating up,” according to Steve Miller, chair of the services business survey committee at the Institute for Supply Management.

By Jim Tyson • March 4, 2026

Small businesses flag inflation as biggest challenge: Fed survey

The widening war in the Persian Gulf may spur inflation if it halts shipments of oil and other energy commodities for an extended period, according to economists.

By Jim Tyson • March 3, 2026

Manufacturing grows for second straight month despite headwinds: ISM

A lengthy conflict in the Middle East may sustain high energy prices and jeopardize gains in manufacturing this year.

By Jim Tyson • March 2, 2026

Producer prices rise more than forecast, affirming inflation persistence

Measures of inflation have sent mixed signals in the past several weeks, prompting some Federal Reserve officials to favor collecting more data before further easing.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 27, 2026

Most tax preparers not subject to standards, prone to costly errors: GAO

Efforts in Congress to pass legislation holding all tax preparers to clear federal standards have repeatedly fizzled out.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 25, 2026

Corporations await more OBBBA tax guidance

As IRS guidance trickles in, unanswered questions remain around how firms should implement the new law’s tax provisions, according to Alvarez & Marsal tax experts.

By Stephen Joyce • Feb. 25, 2026

Consumer confidence inches up on brighter view of job market

The slight gain in confidence reflects consumers’ caution as economic data telegraph mixed signals.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 24, 2026

Deficit reduction looms as top U.S. policy imperative: NABE survey

The impact on the U.S. fiscal outlook from a Supreme Court ruling against Trump administration tariffs has flared into a public debate between administration officials and policy analysts.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 23, 2026

GDP growth falls short of forecast, slowed by federal shutdown

Declining exports also weighed on the economy last quarter as severe shifts in U.S. trade policy disrupted commercial relations with the nation’s largest trading partners.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 20, 2026

Supreme Court invalidates Trump tariffs based on emergency powers

In a 6-3 decision, the court rejected President Trump's claim that a 1977 law gave him the authority to impose broad tariffs globally.

By Antone Gonsalves • Feb. 20, 2026

Economic data point to soft start to 2026, Conference Board says

The U.S. economy, while continuing a nearly six-year-old expansion, has spun off mixed signals in recent months.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 19, 2026

Fed officials voiced concern inflation persists above 2% target

Several central bankers at a policy meeting last month warned against giving any hint of a weaker commitment to pushing down price pressures.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 18, 2026

Inflation slows to 2.4% amid persistent worry about affordability

Traders in interest rate futures, responding to cooler-than-forecast inflation, expect a faster pace of monetary policy easing than they did on Thursday.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 13, 2026

US companies, consumers bear nearly 90% of tariff costs: New York Fed

Recent studies challenge President Donald Trump’s assertion that foreigners, rather than working Americans, will end up paying the highest import taxes since the 1930s.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 12, 2026

Unemployment falls to 4.3% as hiring surges beyond expectations

Responding to surprising strength in the labor market, traders in interest rate futures expect a slower pace of monetary easing by the Federal Reserve this year.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 11, 2026

Corporations enter 2026 with firmer tax runway

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made permanent fundamental changes in the tax code initiated in 2017.

By Stephen Joyce • Feb. 11, 2026

Flat retail sales confirm slump in consumer sentiment

Weak retail spending and a gloomy mood among households contradict forecasts that economic growth will remain solid in coming quarters.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 10, 2026

Consumers without stock holdings harbor ‘dismal’ outlook: survey

Results from a University of Michigan survey line up with a post-pandemic income trend — wealthy consumers are thriving while many other households are struggling.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 6, 2026

Job openings plunge to lowest level in more than five years: BLS

Two government reports bolstered recent private sector data that have flagged job market weakness.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 5, 2026

Service industry grows at fastest pace since Oct. 2024, ISM says

Growth in services aligns with the ISM’s purchasing managers index of manufacturing activity, which last month increased to the highest level since August 2022.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 4, 2026

Missouri may ditch income tax. Will it hurt or help business?

The Show Me State is the latest to consider eliminating state taxes on income, but the plan to replace that revenue could harm some businesses, tax specialists say.

By Stephen Joyce • Feb. 3, 2026