The Price Is Right

...Kind of. Here's the latest on inflation. [For the best experience, read in browser.]( November 15, 2023 Here's something to be cautiously optimistic about: The economy might be turning around. We’ve got the latest on inflation — and which products are more affordable. Then, we’re sharing two of [Matthew Perry’s Friends co-stars’ touching tributes]( to the late actor and spilling the tea on [what Taylor Swift’s friends think about her relationship](. We’ll end with [the Black Friday deals you can’t miss](. Here we go!   In the News [A man riding a grocery cart down a downward sloping arrow]( Getty Images/KCM The Price Is Right-ish Some good news at last: Inflation appears to be cooling, according to new government data. Here's a look at where consumer prices stand now and what it could mean for the economy: By the numbers: The Consumer Price Index, which tracks the prices of a large number of goods and services, rose 3.2% over the year ending in October. That’s down from the 3.7% seen in September and August. Core inflation, which excludes the more volatile food and fuel prices, only rose 4% over the year — the smallest 12-month change in almost two years. Where are prices falling? Gas prices dropped a whopping 5% from September to October after falling 2.1% the month prior. Airfares are down 0.9%, as are used car prices, which dipped 0.8%. What does it mean? Inflation has come down significantly since it peaked in summer 2022, and experts say this report is a sign things may be trending in the right direction. “It’s not signaling ‘out of the woods,’” Harvard economist Jason Furman tells the Washington Post. “But there was no new cause to panic here. In fact, there was some reason to calm down.”   More Stories [Aerial shot of the Al-Shifa hospital compound]( Getty Images Israel-Hamas war: Israel launched a "targeted operation" inside Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital this morning, claiming Hamas is running a command center there. Israel says Hamas' “military use" of the hospital "jeopardizes" its protected status under international law. The White House says it has intelligence that Hamas uses tunnels beneath hospitals to hide hostages, but President Biden adds that Al-Shifa "must be protected," as fears grow for hundreds of civilian patients and staff. The hospital's director told NBC News this morning that a mass grave is being dug inside, as there is no other way to dispose of the dead. Crisis (temporarily) averted: House lawmakers have passed Speaker Mike Johnson’s [stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown](. It's been sent to the Senate and is expected to land on President Biden's desk by Friday night. Johnson appears to have survived the turbulence relatively unscathed despite relying on Democratic votes — the strategy that cost Kevin McCarthy the gavel. “When you touch a hot stove once, you don’t do it twice,” GOP Rules Chairman Tom Cole told CNN. Breaking: Britain's Supreme Court this morning struck down a contentious plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, siding with an earlier ruling that the policy is unlawful. The decision is a huge blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and offers a boost to discontented right wingers in his Conservative party — some of whom are expected to rally around Suella Braverman, who Sunak fired as Home Secretary earlier this week. Arrested: A man is being held on suspicion of manslaughter in the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson. The 29-year-old Nottingham Panthers player died following a cut to the neck from a skate during a Challenge Cup game. “Our investigation launched immediately following this tragedy and we have been carrying out extensive inquiries ever since," police said in a statement.   Must-Reads [Friends cast]( Friends Forever Matt LeBlanc and Courteney Cox shared touching tributes to their late co-star, Matthew Perry. We've got more on their statements. [Read More »]( [Black-and-white image of flying saucer flying over mountainous landscape]( Who's Out There? As the government engages with UFOs (now UAPs), bestselling author Garrett M. Graf investigates whether we're alone in the universe. [Read More »]( [Gerry Turner and Ellen Goltzer embracing on The Golden Bachelor]( Representation Matters The Golden Bachelor has done more than entertain us on Thursday nights — it's helped change the way we see adults over 60. [Read More »](   First-Person “My story begins in 2018, when I took my 12-year-old son Tommy to see his pediatrician three days before he unexpectedly passed away in his sleep.” Nikki Mark experienced the unimaginable pain of losing a child five years ago. The journey to uncover answers led her to an important breakthrough about the power of forgiveness, and [her touching personal story]( is guaranteed to move you. [READ MORE](   Extra Credit [Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce]( Getty Images You need to calm down: Gigi Hadid broke her silence about how she really feels about Taylor Swift’s new relationship. Here’s what the pop star's [other besties have had to say](. Get saucy: [Rachael Ray's penne alla vodka recipe]( has a reputation for acting as a love potion — but even if you're not trying to impress a potential partner, it's a delicious dinner. Just trust us: Can slime be good for your skin? Turns out, snail mucin is a K-beauty staple, because it boosts hydration and speeds up cell regeneration for firmer, bouncier skin. It's a superstar in [this affordable toner](, which is more than worth shelling out your hard-earned cash for.   Ready, Set, Save! [Jar of protagonist cream, Brightland olive oil, Our place dutch oven on teal background]( KCM Get an early start on your Black Friday shopping with our guide to[the best sales happening right now](. In addition to highlighting bargains at some of the usual suspects like Nordstrom and Amazon, we’ve uncovered a few hidden gems. - This [day-and-night skincare duo]( contains powerful ingredients to brighten, smooth, and plump skin around the clock. - [Deeply discounted professional-grade cookware]( will make preparing your next big meal a breeze — and you can score these discounts before Thanksgiving. - Protect yourself against dry winter air with Carepod’s [high-tech humidifier]( that’s dishwasher safe and filter-free for easy cleaning. [SEE MORE](   [The Shop Edit. Love shopping as much as we do? Subscribe to our latest newsletter and you'll never miss another trend, money-saving sale, or hard-to-find gem!]( Thanks for reading Wake-Up Call and being part of our community! If you have questions or comments, drop us a line at info@katiecouric.com. See you tomorrow! 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