Inflation and Economics

The Port of Baltimore is known for handling coal, sugar and specialized vehicles such as tractors and cranes

Amidst mounting tensions, the Red Sea crisis escalates, posing significant threats to global shipping and the economy. This article delves into the impact of Houthi militant activities on international trade routes and the wider geopolitical and economic ramifications.

In the UK, NHS workers ranging from nurses to junior doctors went on strike in 2023 to express their grievances about their pay. These localised and staggered strikes have caused inconvenience, but they did not affect the UK economy significantly. However, the coordinated United Auto Workers (UAW) strike in the US, which began on September 15, is much larger in terms of scale and scope.

The U.S. dollar is near its highest level in more than a decade. A strong U.S. dollar has many benefits to consumers. When traveling abroad, goods and services cost less in U.S. dollars, making foreign destinations attractive vacation options for many. Domestically, imported items also cost less in U.S. dollars, with some of these savings passed along to consumers.

Technology companies are shedding jobs at disturbing rates. Those with experience in computing are being laid off, sometimes with little warning. Freshly minted computer science graduates are facing employment headwinds not seen for well over a decade. Is this the next dot-com bubble burst, which could send the economy spiraling downward to new lows?

Whether you're shopping for gifts or groceries, this is one of the most expensive holiday seasons ever. But there are still ways to save. NBC’s Vicky Nguyen reports for TODAY on how to save ahead of the shopping rush.

The U.S. dollar is near its highest level in more than a decade. A strong U.S. dollar has many benefits to consumers. When traveling abroad, goods and services cost less in U.S. dollars, making foreign destinations attractive vacation options for many. Domestically, imported items also cost less in U.S. dollars, with some of these savings passed along to consumers.

While Canadians and people globally are coping with significant inflation and a rising cost of living, there is some good news on the horizon.

Many adults consult online ratings and reviews before they make a purchase. However, how ratings affect sales is a challenging topic as evidenced from controversy surrounding Rotten Tomato scores or sellers trying to manipulate ratings on various platforms. A new study investigates how rating inflation affected a digital platform as well as the choices users made. The study found that inflation can have benefits and detriments: While sales rose, users’ trials declined, and sales were concentrated among popular sellers. Rating inflating is when platforms change their strategy to increase average ratings. So, users see higher ratings for all restaurants.

AKIKO FUJITA: Well, the cost of food at home increased 13.1% in the month of July, but many consumers are now concerned about the size of the products they're purchasing, also known as shrinkflation. Brooke DiPalma here to break it all down. Brooke, you went out to grocery stores. You saw it. How--