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The latest news and analysis about the health of the US economy.
The war in Iran, which has pushed up oil prices to around $100 a barrel, is scrambling the path the Federal Open Market Committee may have seen for interest rates this year.
Federal Reserve officials say the war in Iran could impact the near-term inflation outlook and add to economic uncertainty, potentially pushing back the timeline for any further interest rate cuts under consideration until later this year.
It's a lot harder to label the negative impacts of the Iran conflict as transitory when the US economy is under pressure on multiple fronts.
The noisy February jobs report put labor market risks back in focus for the Federal Reserve, though it's unlikely to sway the central bank from holding rates steady in March.
February's payrolls sharply missed economists' expectations, Labor Department data released Friday showed, with 92,000 positions lost.
Employers revealed plans to slash 48,307 roles last month, compared to the 108,435 job cut announcements seen in January.
US economic growth was lukewarm across the country in February as hiring remained flat and tariffs increased costs for businesses, according to the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book released on Wednesday.
US private employers added 63,000 roles in February, beating expectations in the best monthly gains since July, according to the private payroll processor ADP.
Markets are reacting to a lack of clarity and shifting expectations in the first days of a chaotic conflict.
New York Federal Reserve president John Williams said Tuesday that President Trump's tariffs have been overwhelmingly borne by US consumers and businesses.
