Business news with words inflation+recession. 45 news.

Virtually any investor looking for an excuse to turn negative on the markets would have found it during this intraholiday week: Geopolitical instability? Check. Rocketing fuel costs? Check. Bad news on the housing market? Check. All that, of course, was piled atop a mound of worries about inflation, recession, stagflation, consumers' mood, corporate earnings, banking write-downs and (distressingly) more.

Virtually any investor looking for an excuse to turn negative on the markets would have found it during this intraholiday week: Geopolitical instability? Check. Rocketing fuel costs? Check. Bad news on the housing market? Check. All that, of course, was piled atop a mound of worries about inflation, recession, stagflation, consumers' mood, corporate earnings, banking write-downs and (distressingly) more.

CONSUMER spending in the United States rose more than forecast in November, allaying concern that the slowest shopping season in five years may have already pushed the economy into recession. Purchases gained 1.1 percent after a 0.4 percent increase in October that was more than previously estimated, the US Commerce Department said on Friday in Washington, according to Bloomberg News. Incomes also advanced, while the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation accelerated. While the gain in November spending was the biggest in more than two years, it preceded reports by retailers that warned of a slump in purchases. A private report on Friday showed consumer confidence slid to the lowest level in more than two years in December. Economists forecast spending would rise 0.7 percent, after an originally reported 0.2 percent increase in October.

Personal consumption climbed by 1.1% in November, a sign the economy might not be as weak as feared, while the key core PCE gauge of inflation rose 2.2%, above the Fed's comfort zone.

Americans spent at their fastest pace in two years in November, the Commerce Department said Friday, easing concerns about a near-term recession.

The stock market swings wildly. Inflation is heating up, credit is tight and the economy may fall into recession. It's enough to make Americans want to hide their money under the mattress.

NEW YORK -- The stock market goes up 200 points one day, and down 200 the next. Inflation is heating up, credit is tight and there's talk that the economy may fall into recession.

If commodity inflation starts to cause broader price rises, central banks will not be able to, and should not be expected to, slash rates to stave off recession

By Brian Stoll. "Recession, global growth, inflation oh my! What will happen!? Who cares? What’s happening right now is the answer to the question of what to do today about tomorrow."

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures on Monday pointed to a lower start on Wall Street as Moody's Investors Services warned it could lower bond insurer credit ratings because of subprime losses and Alan Greenspan warned of a possible U.S. recession.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian share markets, already ragged after five months of turmoil, fell deeper on Monday as rising U.S. inflation and high oil prices fanned concerns the Federal Reserve may be unable to make deeper rate cuts to prevent a possible recession.

UNITED States stocks have had the biggest weekly decline in a month after a Federal Reserve interest-rate cut and the biggest coordinated effort since 2001 to provide banks with cash failed to assuage concern that the economy will contract. Washington Mutual Inc led banks, brokerages and other financial firms to the steepest decline among 10 industries in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. Circuit City Stores Inc, Sears Holdings Corp and Amazon.com Inc retreated on speculation that holiday sales at retailers will fall short of estimates, Bloomberg News said. Shares declined even after central bankers in North America joined those in Europe to inject money into the financial system and alleviate gridlock in credit markets. Reports that showed accelerating inflation caused concern that the Fed will be unable to cut interest rates more to prop up growth. "A recession is in the works," Andy Engel, who helps run the US$1.81 billion Leuthold Core Investment Fund that has

U.S. stocks had their biggest weekly decline in a month after a Federal Reserve interest rate cut and the biggest coordinated effort since 2001 to provide banks with cash failed to assuage concern the economy will contract.

Only last Wednesday the TA-25 index of blue-chip stocks just about reached its all-time high, and it seemed that the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange had put the U.S. subprime credit crisis and fears of a recession behind it. ...

Fears that US policymakers could be caught in an "inflation trap" heightened yesterday, as the American government released inflation figures that were much worse than had been expected at the same time as the former US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said the chances of a full-blown recession had risen.

U.S. stocks looked set for a tough start Friday as credit and recession concerns hung over the market ahead of a key government reading on inflation.

Energy costs' effects on inflation and consumer spending hint at both recession and resiliency. Soaring energy costs helped fuel a record jump in wholesale inflation and an unexpectedly strong gain in retail sales, government reports showed Thursday, sending mixed signals about the state of the economy.

A surge in November retail sales shows that consumer spending may not be slowing as expected. Meanwhile, producer price data underline inflation risks

A quarter-point rate cut led to a big sell-off on the stock market. Economists are split on what's the bigger threat: inflation or recession.

The Federal Reserve disappointed Wall Street yesterday with its measly quarter-point reduction in interest rates. Yes, the Fed said, credit conditions have deteriorated and a recession is possible, but with consumer prices likely to end the year up nearly 4 percent, we're not exactly in the target...