WASHINGTON, April 15 (Reuters) - U.S. import prices increased less than expected in March, though the trend still pointed to firming imported inflationary pressures as the Middle East conflict boosts oil prices and snarls supply chains. Economists shrugged off the report from the Labor Department on Wednesday and said they expected the oil price surge from the U.S.-Israeli war with...

April 15 (Reuters) - U.S. economic activity increased and employment was steady in recent weeks, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday in a report that also pointed to notable impacts from a surge in energy prices amid the ongoing Iran war. The conflict in the Middle East was cited as a major source of uncertainty that complicated decision-making around hiring, pricing, and...

WASHINGTON, April 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday said he was optimistic that Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump's nominee for Federal Reserve Chair, would assume the post on time. He is going to have a hearing on the 21st of this month. He's a great candidate. We know that the Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee...

01:05 PM EDT, 04/15/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US homebuilder confidence sank this month to the lowest since September amid economic uncertainty, as well as increasing building material costs and interest rates, the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo said Wednesday. The housing market index, which covers new single-family homes, fell four points sequentially to 34 in April. The...