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Please discuss and keep to 3 main articles for analysis.

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WASHINGTON * The US economy slowed a touch in the third quarter but remained solid, thanks to a pick-up in home sales and steady consumer spending, government figures showed yesterday.

Gross domestic product (GDP) growth avoided the steeper drop-off feared by economists, but the US-China trade war still walloped the business sector, according to Commerce Department data.

The steady expansion offered US President Donald Trump a measure of relief for his economic agenda, which has failed to produce the 3 per cent growth he touted.

The economy expanded 1.9 per cent in the July to September period, well above economists' expectations but a notch lower than the 2 per cent growth seen in the second quarter. The result, which is subject to revision, muddies the waters a bit for the US Federal Reserve, which yesterday was expected to announce a third consecutive interest rate cut in an effort to buoy flagging growth amid the uncertainty caused by Mr Trump's trade wars.

"The Greatest Economy in American History!" Mr Trump tweeted an hour before the data was released.

But while the White House may breathe a sigh of relief, the details also offered a few reasons to gasp.

Rattled by the uncertainty over trade wars and a global economic slowdown, business investments tumbled the most in nearly four years, according to the report.

The decline in investments in structures accelerated to their second straight double-digit drop. Consumer spending remained solid but slowed ahead of the holiday season, with spending on durable goods like computers cut nearly in half, the data showed.

The housing sector was a bright spot. After dragging on the economy for over a year, spending on new and existing homes jumped higher as would-be home owners pounced on attractive mortgage rates in recent months.

Exports also recovered slightly, posting a modest increase and adding somewhat to growth after tumbling in the second quarter.

A slowing global economy has hit foreign demand for US goods and services, raising fears the world's troubles could wash up on US shores. The Fed has rolled back some of the increases in the benchmark lending rate implemented last year when the economy was strengthening, but if GDP growth holds up, it makes the decision on the next step more complex.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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US GDP growth slows to 1.9%, but still better than expected

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WASHINGTON * The US economy slowed a touch in the third quarter but remained solid, thanks to a pick-up in home sales and steady consumer spending, government figures showed yesterday. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth avoided the steeper drop-off feared by economists, but the US-China trade war still walloped the business sector, according to Commerce Department data.

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[WASHINGTON] US consumer prices rebounded more than expected in October and underlying inflation picked up, which together with abating trade tensions and fears of a recession, support the Federal Reserve's signal for no further interest rate cuts in the near term.

The Labour Department said on Wednesday its consumer price index increased 0.4 per cent last month as households paid more for energy products, healthcare, food and a range of other goods. That was the largest gain in the CPI since March and followed an unchanged reading in September.

In the 12 months through October, the CPI increased 1.8 per cent after climbing 1.7 per cent in September.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the CPI advancing 0.3 per cent in October and gaining 1.7 per cent on a year-on-year basis.

Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the CPI rose 0.2 per cent after edging up 0.1 per cent in September. The so-called core CPI rose as healthcare costs jumped by the most in more than three years. There were also increases in prices of used cars and trucks and recreation and rents.

In the 12 months through October, the core CPI increased 2.3 per cent after rising 2.4 per cent in September.

The Fed tracks the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index for its 2.0 per cent inflation target. The core PCE price index rose 1.7 per cent on a year-on-year basis in September and has fallen short of its target this year.

October's firmer monthly CPI reading and jump in healthcare costs suggest a pick-up in the core PCE price index last month. The core PCE price data will be published later this month.

The US central bank last month cut interest rates for the third time this year and signaled a pause in the easing cycle that started in July when it reduced borrowing costs for the first time since 2008.

Stable inflation comes on the heels of fairly upbeat data, including better-than-expected job growth in October and an acceleration in services sector activity.

There has also been an de-escalation of trade tensions between the United States and China. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Washington was close to signing a "phase one" trade deal with Beijing, but provided no new details.

While the 16-month U.S.-China trade war is weighing on the manufacturing industry, the household sector remains solid.

In October, energy prices jumped 2.7 per cent after falling 1.4 per cent in the prior month. Energy prices accounted for more than half of the increase in the CPI last month.

Gasoline prices rebounded 3.7 per cent after declining 2.4 per cent in September. Food prices rose 0.2 per cent, rising for a second straight month. Food consumed at home gained 0.3 per cent.

Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence, which is what a homeowner would pay to rent or receive from renting a home, increased 0.2 per cent in October after rising 0.3 per cent in September. But other shelter categories softened last month. The rent index rose 0.1 per cent, the smallest gain since April 2011.

Healthcare costs surged 1.0 per cent last month, the most since August 2016, after climbing 0.2 per cent in September. Apparel prices fell 1.8 per cent after dropping 0.4 per cent in the prior month.

Used motor vehicles and trucks prices increased 1.3 per cent after decreasing 1.6 per cent in September.

REUTERS

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US consumer prices increase more than expected in October

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WASHINGTON] US consumer prices rebounded more than expected in October and underlying inflation picked up, which together with abating trade tensions and fears of a recession, support the Federal Reserve's signal for no further interest rate cuts in the near term. Read more at The Business Times.

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Job growth slows less than expected