Author: Leslie Stewart

Inflation accelerated in May as rising energy costs became painful for consumers, but underlying pressures were less strong.The Consumer Price Index, a broad gauge of the cost of goods and services across the U.S. economy, rose a seasonally adjusted 0.5% this month, bringing the annual inflation rate to 4.2%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. Both numbers were in line with the Dow Jones Consensus, although the monthly numbers were 0.1 percentage points lower than April’s numbers.The inflation rate exceeded 4% for the first time in three years, meeting expectations amid concerns about how high energy prices will affect…

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde speaks at the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) Economic Policy Conference in Washington, DC, USA, Monday, February 23, 2026. Graham Sloan | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThe European Central Bank is expected to raise interest rates on Thursday as policymakers grapple with the threat of a second round of inflation from soaring energy prices.Unlike the Fed, the ECB has the sole mandate of keeping inflation near its 2% target, and recent data shows both headline and core measures are rising.The euro zone’s headline inflation rate rose to 3.2% in April as energy prices rose…

Nevada Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo and Democrat Aaron Ford won their primary elections, officially setting up one of the most competitive gubernatorial races of the fall, according to an NBC News project.Subscribe to read this story without ads Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Lombardo, a former Clark County sheriff, easily won his party’s nomination over several low-profile challengers as he seeks reelection to a second term. Mr. Ford defeated Washoe County Commissioner in the Democratic race, receiving about two-thirds of the vote. Lombardo has emerged as a top Democratic target for defeat since winning his first gubernatorial…

Customers shop at Handy Market on May 14, 2026 in Burbank, California.Justin Sullivan | Getty ImagesInflation rates released Wednesday are expected to cross another uncomfortable threshold as the cost of living continues to rise for U.S. consumers.If the Wall Street consensus is correct, consumer price index inflation is expected to rise at an annual rate of 4.2%, up from an expected monthly increase of 0.5% in May. If that happens, it will be the first time since May 2023 that the CPI has exceeded 4%, and the highest since April of the same year.Of course, much of the rise in…

Musicians are paying tribute to Grammy-winning songwriter Talley Riley after he was identified as the victim of a fatal stabbing in London last week. Subscribe to read this story without ads Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Riley, whose real name is Mark Olabiyi, was one of two people stabbed in the West Ham area of ​​London on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said. Authorities identified him in a press release Sunday that included a statement from his family. “Mark was a beloved son, brother, uncle and friend,” his family said in a statement. “He brought love, light and…

Vice President J.D. Vance announced Monday that he will refer Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison (both Democrats) to the Department of Justice to investigate criminal fraud involving social welfare programs.Subscribe to read this story without ads Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.”Minnesota officials are not above the law. If they encouraged fraud, lied under oath about what they knew, or harassed or threatened whistleblowers, they must face justice,” Vance wrote of X, adding that his introduction was prompted by a letter and report from the Republican-led House Oversight Committee.The commission’s report, released…

U.S. households are increasingly concerned about their financial situation, with the highest percentage in nearly four years saying they see their financial situation as much worse than it was 12 months ago, according to a New York Fed survey.The central bank’s monthly consumer expectations survey released on Monday showed the inflation outlook largely unchanged, but public perception of the situation worsened.The percentage of people who think the current situation is “much worse” than a year ago jumped to 13.3%, an increase of about 2.7 points from April and the highest since July 2022. A total of 43.7% say the economy…

A McDonald’s employee in California suffered burns to his face, neck, arms and back after a co-worker allegedly poured hot oil on him. Subscribe to read this story without ads Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Jacob Smith, 20, remains in the hospital after the incident at a McDonald’s in Yuba City on May 30th. His mother, Amber Smith, told NBC affiliate KCRA in Sacramento that she was getting ready to go home when she was attacked.”He was getting ready to count money in his office when he saw something out of the corner of his eye and…

A lawsuit filed Saturday against the federal government asks a judge to cancel the Ultimate Fighting Championship event scheduled for this week on the White House lawn.Subscribe to read this story without ads Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The lawsuit, brought by the watchdog group Public Integrity Project on behalf of two plaintiffs, is another case in which private citizens and activist groups have tried to block a project promoted by President Donald Trump.The event is a fight night said to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and is scheduled for June…

Kimi Antonelli took a dramatic victory in Sunday’s F1 Monaco Grand Prix, extending his lead in the championship to 66 points after the race was stopped twice due to crashes and red flags.Subscribe to read this story without ads Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The right-to-flag victory on the iconic streets of Monte Carlo marked the 19-year-old Italian’s fifth straight victory, continuing his incredible winning streak in his second season in F1.Fellow Mercedes driver and closest rival for the championship, George Russell, finished outside the points due to his team’s failure to properly execute a five-second time…