culprit

New York gold futures fell 2 percent on Wednesday as oil dropped and the U.S. dollar was propped up. A slumping economy was a cited culprit with fears of eroding demand for commodities.

Silver and platinum gained 3.2 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively.

The annual inflation rate climbed to 5.6% in July - the fastest growing rate in 17 years, according to Labor Department figures released Thursday.Consumer prices jumped 0.8% in July, nearly double the level economists expected.

It follows June's 1.1% increase.

The biggest culprit in inflation's increase was energy costs, which jumped by 4% on a monthly basis and 29.3% annually.

On a somewhat optimistic note,

The flight of advertising dollars to the Internet is one explanation for the pain felt by traditional media.

Another culprit that is increasingly to blame is Detroit.