Search

Byline: Rachel Siegel Inflation rose slightly in December, offering the latest sign that the economy has made significant progress since prices spiked to four-decade highs - but there's still a [...]

Something unusual is happening to prices right now: They are falling. The recent sharp decline in gas prices is part of the story, but there is now growing fear that [...]

Byline: Max Ehrenfreund WASHINGTON - There are already signs that gasoline prices, which have fallen to their lowest level in the past six years, are making it easier for Americans [...]

HONG KONG -- Inflation slowed sharply in China last month as companies cut prices to cope with faltering demand, as the Chinese economy appeared to slow further, data released on [...]

CORRECTION APPENDED HOUSTON -- The sharp slump in oil prices over the last few months is finally beginning to bring relief at the gasoline pump, with the price of a [...]

Byline: Tom Vanden Brook Soaring gas prices are slamming cities, school districts and sheriff's departments across the USA, forcing local governments to scrimp, save and borrow to pay the price [...]

Oil companies are sitting on huge cash stockpiles as a result of high prices, but shareholders are pressing for some of this money to come back to them as dividends. So far the industry has resisted using the money for this as well as investments and acquisitions, citing the possible effects should prices drop.

Despite earlier protests, Arcelor S.A. has accepted the large price rises by its supplier, mining company Companhia Vale do Rio Doce S.A. of Brazil. This will meanmore pressure on steel prices.

Imported consumer goods' prices may drop as their production is moved to low-cost locations, even if inflation picks up.

COUNTRY BACKGROUND FROM THE ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT Consumer prices 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Index (100=1995) 105.4 103.4 101.9 105.2 109.2 % change, year on year 1.6 -1.9 -1.5 3.2 [...]

COUNTRY BRIEFING FROM THE ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT After a buoyant year in 2001, when GDP grew 7.6%, Niger is to get another US$11m from the IMF under its poverty reduction [...]

COUNTRY BRIEFING FROM THE ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT The jump in the annual inflation rate in April to 6.9% was only temporary, mainly arising from two increases to Botswana Housing Corporation [...]

COUNTRY BRIEFING FROM THE ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT Consumer price inflation rose by 0.6% quarter on quarter in the first quarter of 2002, after an identical increase in the fourth quarter [...]