Specialized search for economics

1+ min ago (409+ words) Festive favourite chocolates, including the staple Terry's Chocolate Orange, have risen in price this Christmas, new data shows. Chocolate lovers may be saddened to hear that prices have risen by nearly one-fifth, as cocoa ingredients become more expensive to source. Chocolate prices have soared by 18.4 per cent since last year, according to figures from Worldpanel. The prices of sweet chocolate treats have risen faster than almost all other supermarket food products, second only to fresh meat and chicken. KitKats are now as much as 70 per cent more expensive than last year, while a 310g pack of Maltesers comes in at "1.67 more, according to data from Trolley.co.uk. A classic Terry's Chocolate Orange has risen by 38 pence as several big brand manufactures have moved to using less cocoa in an attempt to offset the price increases. Nestle have moved to reducing…...

5+ min ago (404+ words) Federal data released Thursday shows that the number of Americans filing for'unemployment'benefits surged last week, another indication of growing instability in President Donald Trump's economy as corporations'lay off workers en masse'and prices continue to rise. For the week ending December 6, new unemployment claims jumped to 236,000an increase of 44,000 from the previous week, according to'figures'from the US Labor Department. Andrew Stettner, an unemployment insurance expert at The Century Foundation (TCF) noted that new unemployment claims are now at their highest level since early September. "These totals don't include an additional 12,732 former'federal workers'who are also now relying on unemployment benefits, as the number of federal'workers'on UI has stayed at levels not seen since the'pandemic, even after the government shutdown has ended," Stettner said. See Also:Sounds Like Another Way' to Cut Benefits as Trump Social Security Chief Aims to Slash Office Visits The…...

20+ min ago (121+ words) Savings account yields are again under threat. Fortunately, long-term CD rates have been holding steady'giving investors a convenient way to make up for any lost income. On Wednesday, policymakers at the Federal Reserve cut the benchmark federal-funds rate by a quarter-point, the third such cut since September. Oops, something went wrong The Fed's Rate Cuts Could Hit Savings Rates. These CDs are Worth a Look. Savings account yields are again under threat. Fortunately, long-term CD rates have been holding steady'giving investors a convenient way to make up for any lost income. On Wednesday, policymakers at the Federal Reserve cut the benchmark federal-funds rate by a quarter-point, the third such cut since September....

25+ min ago (169+ words) It's time for Yahoo Finance's Market Minute. The Dow surging to a record on Thursday as more tech exposed gauges find themselves under pressure. Oracle's latest quarterly results reviving AI over spending worries. Meanwhile, Fundstrat's Tom Lee sees the S&P 500 reaching 7700 by the end of 2026. Lee noting that the bull market is still alive after making significant gains over the past three years. Turning to Visa, that stock gets a lift over Bank of America, the firm lifting its rating from neutral to buy. B of A saying there's a compelling valuation and stable coins are an attractive opportunity, not a threat. Lastly, Ciena reporting first quarter results that topped estimates, the networking equipment company also providing a better than expected outlook for the first quarter. Bloomberg intelligence highlighting that Ciena's results shows it has solid positioning in the…...

30+ min ago (156+ words) Why the rail fare freeze is not necessarily good news for train passengers. Credit: The Independent London commuters about to see a massive Tube and rail fare rise - London's Tube and Transport for London (TfL) rail fares are set to increase from March, with single Tube fares capped at a 20p rise. - Peak pay-as-you-go fares for Zone 1 journeys will rise from "2.90 to "3.10, and a Piccadilly line trip from Zone 1 to Heathrow will increase by 10p. - Mayor Sadiq Khan announced that bus and tram fares will be frozen until July 2026, marking the seventh time he has implemented such a freeze. - The fare increases are in response to a government expectation for TfL fares to rise by inflation plus 1 per cent, despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. - Separately, hundreds of bus workers employed by London Transit in west London are planning strikes in December over…...

32+ min ago (183+ words) Diary of disturbing disinformation and dangerous delusionsThis claim:We lowered the price of everything." " Former President Joe Biden, Friday We say: Uh oh, Joe's into the Rocky Road again. Maybe if you too slept through his presidency you could buy Biden's line that his was a golden age of affordability. But if you had to buy groceries or pay for gas then, you surely saw how inflation ran red-hot on his watch: Home prices alone soared 38% and gasoline prices rose 31% " while real wages fell 4%. Affordability? Please. Diary of disturbing disinformation and dangerous delusions We lowered the price of everything." " Former President Joe Biden, Friday We say: Uh oh, Joe's into the Rocky Road again. Maybe if you too slept through his presidency you could buy Biden's line that his was a golden age of affordability. But if you had to…...

35+ min ago (210+ words) For artists, freelancers, and the self-employed, tax season can feel like a looming cloud. A new book by artist-turned-tax-specialist Hannah Cole offers an antidote. But'Taxes for Humans'goes beyond mechanics. It's a manifesto for civic engagement and financial literacy, particularly for those historically left behind: women, queer people, BIPOC communities, and independent workers. William G. Gale, Co-Director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, calls it "a rallying cry for civic engagement. What a gift!" Perfect for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by tax forms,'Taxes for Humans'is both a toolkit and a lifeline. Cole's empathetic tone and practical advice make this book indispensable for creatives and entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of self-employment. To order Taxes for Humans, visit bookshop.org. The book is also available for purchase at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon. MA and MFA students at this university in…...

37+ min ago (155+ words) Indian stock markets saw a rise on Thursday, snapping a losing streak. This followed a US Federal Reserve interest rate cut. However, ongoing trade deal negotiations between the US and India are expected to influence market sentiment in the coming weeks. Analysts anticipate the Nifty to trade within a defined range. Foreign investors continue to sell shares. The Nifty Volatility Index, or VIX - popularly known as the fear gauge of the market, fell 4.7% to 10.4 levels on Thursday, indicating some relief among traders. How Zerodha's liquid ETF push is powering a silent fixed-income revolt With rupee at 90, India faces CAD stress test. Can it dodge a 2013 repeat? Stock Radar: Titan Company sees profit booking fall after hitting record highs in November 2025; time to buy the dip? For sustainable wealth creation, one moat is a must: 6 large-caps from different sectors with an…...

37+ min ago (572+ words) Gold (XAU/USD) skyrockets on Thursday after the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut rates as expected on Wednesday, and even though it hinted at a pause in the easing cycle, it was not an excuse for the rally in precious metals. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades at $4,278 after bouncing off a daily low of $4,204. On Wednesday, the Fed reduced rates by 25 basis points amid a period of elevated prices, as inflation is nearing 3%. However, the central bank hinted at a pause in its easing cycle, as Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that they are in a wait-and-see mode, and that rates are on the higher range for neutral. US jobs data was softer than expected, as Jobless Claims for the previous week missed forecasts. Other data showed that the trade deficit narrowed in September, according to the US Census…...

49+ min ago (214+ words) Our administration is changing that approach," said Bessent, who chairs the committee, which is meeting on Thursday. Bessent said the council will begin to consider where aspects of the U.S. financial regulatory framework impose undue burdens and where they harm economic growth, thereby undermining financial stability." Voting members of the FSOC committee include the head of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; the Comptroller of the Currency; the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and several other agency heads. It was established in 2010 by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a sweeping U.S. financial reform law created to prevent future economic meltdowns. A critic of the Trump administration, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., panned the idea of loosening financial regulations, saying taking this hands-off approach to financial stability…...