EconomyPolicy

Tariffs Drive Inflation Higher as Consumers Face Rising Prices, Fed Report Shows

President Trump’s tariffs are contributing to rising inflation as companies grapple with whether to absorb costs or pass them to consumers. The Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book report indicates price increases across multiple districts while consumer spending shows mixed patterns across income levels.

Tariffs Fuel Inflation Pressures Across US Economy

According to the Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book report, tariffs implemented by former President Donald Trump are pushing inflation generally higher as businesses face difficult decisions about absorbing costs or passing them to consumers. The report states that “prices rose further during the reporting period” with tariff-induced input cost increases reported across many districts.

BusinessEconomy

Bank Earnings Lift Markets as AI Infrastructure Deals and Apple Innovations Signal Sector Strength

Financial markets gained momentum Wednesday as banking sector earnings exceeded expectations. Simultaneously, a massive $40 billion data center acquisition signals continued AI infrastructure investment, while Apple’s new M5 chip promises significant AI performance improvements.

Banking Sector Strength Boosts Market Performance

Financial markets reportedly turned positive Wednesday as strong earnings from major banking institutions overshadowed ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China. According to market analysis, Bank of America shares jumped more than 3.5% while Morgan Stanley surged 5% following better-than-expected quarterly results. These performances followed solid earnings earlier in the week from Wells Fargo, BlackRock, and Goldman Sachs, with Wells Fargo reportedly hitting an all-time high amid a three-session winning streak exceeding 10%.