WASHINGTON — Americans cut their spending at retail stores and restaurants in March for the second straight month, a sign consumers are becoming more cautious.

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer inflation eased in March, with less expensive gas and food providing some relief to households that have struggled with surging prices for nearly two years.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve extended its yearlong fight against high inflation March 22 by raising its key interest rate a quarter-point.

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer price increases eased from January to February but still indicated elevated inflation, posing a challenge for the Federal Reserve's interest rate plans.

WASHINGTON — America’s employers added a substantial 311,000 jobs in February, fewer than January’s huge gain but enough to keep pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates aggressively to fight inflation.

WASHINGTON — America’s consumers rebounded in January from a weak holiday shopping season by boosting their spending at stores and restaurants at the fastest pace in nearly two years.

WASHINGTON — The pace of consumer price increases eased again in January, the latest sign that the high inflation that has gripped Americans for two years is slowing.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve extended its fight against high inflation on Feb. 1 by raising its key interest rate by a quarter-point, its eighth hike since March.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge eased further in December, and consumer spending fell — the latest evidence that the Fed’s series of interest rate hikes are slowing the economy.

WASHINGTON — Rising U.S. consumer prices moderated again in December, bolstering hopes that inflation’s grip on the economy will continue to ease this year and possibly require less drastic action by the Federal Reserve to control it.