Business Insider
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MAR 15, 2018
Debt-swamped US consumers, whose spending makes up two-thirds of overall economic activity, appear to be finally tapping out. This is a massive problem for the Fed.
Raising rates to quell inflation further dampens economic activity, and if the typically indefatigable US consumer is already retreating, this is a setup for that most dreaded of all scenarios: stagflation.
The fairly strong inflation report from the Labor Department on Wednesday put more pressure on U.S. financial markets, which were spooked by a surge in annual wage growth in January. Prices of U.S. Treasuries fell on the inflation data.
Investors worry that inflation, which is seen as being driven by a tightening labor market and increased government spending, could force the Fed to be more aggressive in raising rates this year than currently anticipated. That would slow economic growth.
ORIGINAL SOURCE: Retail sales drop raises worries about consumer spending, growth by Pedro Nicolaci da Costa at Business Insider on 3/14/18