News
Wave of Inflation
1+ hour, 10+ min ago (16+ words) Chattanooga Times Free Press Lisa Benson's Free Press cartoon for June 1, 2026....
Tomatoes become latest symbol of America's affordability squeeze
1+ day, 20+ hour ago (596+ words) Prices for those red orbs have soared more than any other food product over the past year to cement a spot as one of the consumer headaches du jour. "The tomato has become a symbol of something much deeper," says…...
Key inflation gauge worsens as Americans' income and spending power erodes
2+ day, 11+ hour ago (541+ words) Inflation jumped to 3. 8% in April compared with a year ago, the Commerce Department'said Thursday, up from 3. 5% in March and the highest since May 2023. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0. 4%, down from the 0. 7% jump in March but still higher than the…...
Toni Says: Beware of claims about a $2, 400 Social Security increase for 2026 " it's a scam!
1+ week, 1+ hour ago (477+ words) I have not received that increase or other information by either mail or email explaining when this increase will happen. Do you know where I should go for trustworthy information? Thanks, Toni. -- Chris from Columbus, Ohio Great question, because Social…...
Powell's tenure as Fed chair marked by fight for independence while trying to tame inflation
2+ week, 1+ day ago (1298+ words) Now, as Powell steps down from the post after eight tumultuous years, the U. S. economy is transformed: Inflation soaredafter the pandemic and has remained above the Fed's 2% target for more than five years, angering votersand making rents, cars, andgroceriesharder to afford....
Who is incoming Fed chair Kevin Warsh?
2+ week, 2+ day ago (777+ words) Warsh takes over a divided central bank wrestling with the economic fallout from the war started by the U. S. and Israel with Iran on Feb. 28. The conflict has driven up energy prices and made it even more difficult for the Fed…...
Producer prices shot up 6%, adding pressure on companies to hike prices for struggling customers
2+ week, 3+ day ago (650+ words) The Labor Department reported Wednesday that its producer price index " which tracks inflation before it hits consumers " shot up 1. 4% in April, the biggest monthly gain in more than four years. Energy prices climbed 7. 8% from March to April and 22. 7% from a…...
Free Press Opinion: Debt? What debt? Who is monitoring the debt?
3+ week, 4+ day ago (563+ words) Chattanooga Times Free Press Free Press Opinion: Debt? What debt? Who is monitoring the debt? People of a certain age will recall a lyric from the Tennessee Ernie Ford song "Sixteen Tons": "Another day older and deeper in debt." I…...
Cost of Living
3+ week, 4+ day ago (214+ words) Chattanooga Times Free Press Clay Bennett's Times cartoon for May 6, 2026. The son of a career army officer, Bennett led a nomadic life, attending ten different schools before graduating in 1980 from the University of North Alabama with degrees in Art and…...
How a weaker dollar is quietly making life more expensive
3+ week, 5+ day ago (886+ words) The dollar has fallen about 10% against other major currencies since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, a pullback potentially playing a role in Americans" concerns about affordability. "It"s kind of a hidden tax," says economist Thomas Savidge…...