Key Federal Reserve Inflation Measure Posts Biggest Jump in 4 Months

Published on February 29, 2024

A key Federal Reserve inflation measure rose as expected in January, signaling that monetary authorities could witness stalled progress in their inflation fight. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the personal consumption expenditure (PCE) price index rose 0.3 percent monthly, up from 0.1 percent in the previous month and in line with the consensus estimate. This was the biggest jump in four months. The PCE slowed to an annualized rate of 2.4 percent last month, down from 2.6 percent in December and matched economists’ expectations. Core PCE, which excludes the volatile energy and food components, dipped from 2.9 percent to 2.8 percent year-over-year. This represented the lowest core PCE inflation reading since April 2021....

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Canada Household Debt Ratio Surpasses Levels in Other G7 Countries

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Alberta Expecting Budget to Be Restrained but With Few Cuts

February 29, 2024
Albertans have been told to expect financial restraint in today’s provincial budget.Premier Danielle Smith signalled a turn to less spending and more saving in a televised address last week.Ms. Smith said she has told Finance Minister Nate Horner to keep spending increases beneath the rate of inflation and population growth.She said she expected that could be done without major spending cuts or ne