The Federal Reserve gathers this week for the first time in the second presidential term of Donald Trump, who has already signaled that he wants lower interest rates. If virtually every indication so far is accurate, the new leader of the free world is unlikely to get what he wants,...
Core inflation rate slows to 3.2% in December, less than expected
Prices that consumers pay for a variety of goods and services rose again in December but closed out 2024 with some mildly better news on inflation, particularly on housing. The consumer price index increased a seasonally adjusted 0.4% on the month, putting the 12-month inflation rate at 2.9%, the...
AT&T’s bundled 5G, fiber plans boost holiday-quarter subscriptions
AT&T's fourth-quarter wireless subscriber growth surpassed expectations on Monday, fueled by strong demand for its discounted premium plans combining 5G mobile with high-speed fiber data services. The U.S. telecom giant added 482,000 net monthly bill-paying wireless phone subscribers in the holiday quarter, outpacing analysts' estimated gains of 424,550, according...
Aerial firefighting companies’ new challenge: Keeping up with demand
As out-of-control wildfires threatened thousands of Los Angeles residents earlier this month, the companies that fight infernos from the air raced to send their air tankers and water bombers to the area. It was supposed to be the off-season. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal...