The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The great inflation spike of the past three years is nearly spent — and economists credit American consumers for helping slay it. Some of America’s largest companies, from Amazon to Disney to Yum Brands, say their customers are increasingly seeking cheaper alternative products and services, searching for bargains or just avoiding items they deem too expensive. Consumers aren’t cutting back enough to cause an economic downturn. Rather, economists say, they appear to be returning to pre-pandemic norms, when most companies felt they couldn’t raise prices very much without losing business.

Americans’ refusal to keep paying higher prices may be dealing a final blow to US inflation spike

The Independent

The rate at which house prices were rising in the UK steadied in June, as tenants continued to be squeezed by soaring rentsThe average price tag for a home increased by 2.7% in the 12 months to June, unchanged from May, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.It marked the fourth month in a row that prices have increased annually, as momentum returned to the market following eight months of annual price falls.The average cost of a home in June was £288,000 and private rents across the country jumped 8.6% in the year to July, averaging £1,319.Annual price rises in...

House prices grow steadily as ‘eye-watering’ rent increases hit

The 30-year mortgage rate average fell Tuesday, to 6.43%. That's its lowest level in a week, and is not far above the 16-month low of 6.28% that was registered last week. Averages for almost all mortgage rates moved lower Tuesday. National Averages of Lenders' Best Mortgage Rates. Loan Type New...

Mortgage Rates Fall to New 1-Week Low

Consumer prices in the US rose at the slowest pace in more than three years last month, bolstering the case for the central bank to start cutting interest rates. Overall, prices rose 2.9% over the 12 months to July, the smallest annual increase since March 2021 and down from 3% in June, the Labor Department said.

Slowest US inflation since 2021 raises rate cut hope

Markets Insider

Shelter costs the final obstacle to inflation falling back dow to 2%

Housing costs are the final obstacle to inflation falling back to earth

GOBankingRates

Housing prices have been increasing for the past decade, with median home values soaring to record highs in 2021. While the market has cooled slightly, high mortgage rates and low inventory have kept...

Will Home Prices Crash in 2026?

Las Vegas, NV

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Bellingham Metro News

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck areas near Las Vegas on Tuesday night, according to the United States Geological Service (USGS). The quake, which occurred at 8:06 p.m., was centered approximately 45 minutes from Las Vegas, near Indian Springs.

Magnitude 4.4 Earthquake Shakes Areas Near Las Vegas

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NewsNinja

"They accidentally gave us 2 washers and a dryer when we only ordered 1 of each". Last month, Lowe’s experienced a glitch that lowered the price of its $2,300 Midea jumbo capacity refrigerator to just $169.

‘Lowe’s messed up’: Shopper says they got $2,300 fridge at Lowe’s for just $169

Colorado State

David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Florida State

Jacksonville Today

Republican Donald Trump has a 7-point lead over Democrat Kamala Harris among Florida voters, 49% to 42%, according to a new poll from the University of North Florida. Four percent are backing another candidate, and 6% are undecided or didn’t answer.

New Florida poll: Trump leads; support strong for abortion and recreational weed

Ohio State

The Lantern

On Tuesday, licensed Ohio dispensaries began legally selling non-medical marijuana to consumers; however, the drug’s possession, growth and/or usage are still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus. Credit: Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS [Original caption: Four citizen-led petitions with proposals to update Dallas’ charter hit the 20,000 valid signature threshold to make it on the Nov. 5 election ballot, including one that would ban police officers from arresting or citing people carrying less than four ounces of marijuana.] As of Tuesday, students 21 and older can now legally purchase marijuana in Ohio.

Dispensary sales of recreational marijuana began Tuesday; possession and usage still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus

Denver, CO

On the night in January 2024 when volunteers counted people experiencing homelessness in Denver, no shelter beds were available for individuals or families, according to data provided by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. More than 2,500 individuals and 181 families slept outside, the data showed.

State of homelessness in Denver: Full shelters, surge in older adults

No, pallet shelters for people experiencing homelessness don’t fold into caskets. It’s a question a reader posed one of the first times I wrote about pallet shelters. I find the pallet shelters to be more palatable than ice fishing tents. The Colorado Village Collaborative operates both micro-communities and the so-called Safe Outdoor Spaces with the tents. We all learned the tents are not safe when a fire roared through a CVC Safe Outdoor Space, destroying the compound quickly. Officials never disclosed a cause of the fire.

Opinion: No, pallet shelters for homeless in Denver, Aurora don’t fold into caskets

Jacksonville, FL

A historic marker could be erected to honor the victims of the racist mass shooting at the Dollar General store in Jacksonville’s New Town neighborhood nearly a year ago. If approved by the Jacksonville City Council, a marker would be installed at Kings Road and Canal Street on Aug. 25, a day before the first anniversary of the shooting, when a white gunman took the lives of three Black people.

Memorial considered to honor Dollar General victims

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J. Souza

According to cruise industry reports, the world's largest cruise ship is sailing well above 100% capacity, thanks to more beds being filled on recent sailings. Royal Caribbean’s newest flagship, the Icon of the Seas, is proving to be an unprecedented success, with occupancy rates far exceeding expectations.

The Largest Cruise Ship in the World is Sailing at 132% Capacity: How This is Even Possible

The states with Wednesday's lowest 30-year new purchase mortgage rates were New York, California, Florida, Colorado, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, the states with the most expensive averages Wednesday were Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Maryland, South Dakota, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia. Mortgage rates vary by the state where...

Today's Mortgage Rates by State – Aug. 15, 2024

South Carolina State

Colleton County, SC

Explore Beaufort SC

Some beachgoers were in for a surprise this week when a bizarre looking prehistoric fish washed ashore in Colleton County along Edisto Beach at Edisto Beach State Park. It turned out to be an atlantic sturgeon.

Rare Atlantic sturgeon washes ashore on South Carolina beach

In addition to collecting more than 8,000 used needles in the past year from Denver drug users, the Harm Reduction Action Center passed out 10,000 meth pipes and “snort kits,” according to a newsletter sent to its supporters Thursday. They also connected about 1,700 people to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Denver group hands out 10K meth pipes, ‘snort kits,’ connects 1,700 to treatment annually

Candy giant Mars' $35.9 billion offer for Kellanova is a fresh burst of energy for the mergers and acquisitions market. The Mars transaction is the largest M&A deal this year, according to Dealogic, ahead of Capital One Financial’s $35.3 billion deal to acquire Discover Financial Services, announced in February.

How the $35.9B Mars Bid for Kellanova Stacks Up Among Food and Drinks Deals

In this week’s installment of Homeless Hotel Diary, broken glass again leads the lineup. Someone smashed a window in the lobby of Fusion Studios, the Colorado Coalition for the homeless property where I live and pay a third of my income for rent. This same person shattered the door to the case manager’s office and threw rocks through the windshield and side windows of the community van. Multiple residents told me who did the damage – the same person allegedly committed all three crimes – and last I knew that person still was at large. I could not get any official reports from Coalition staff. They were not available to speak with me Friday.

Opinion: Homeless Hotel Diary: Busted door, windows at Fusion Studios in Denver, internet spotty

NewsBreak

Rising Housing Costs Cast a Shadow On a Sunny Inflation Outlook

Shelter inflation accelerated in July, a sore spot in an otherwise moderate CPI report. Some economists think the uptick was a blip, and that housing costs...

Rising Housing Costs Cast a Shadow On a Sunny Inflation Outlook

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