inflation rate

China's inflation rate eased to 4.9 percent in August — the lowest in 14 months — indicating efforts to cool a yearlong surge in politically volatile consumer prices were working, the government said Wednesday.

Zimbabwe's inflation rate has soared in the past three months and is now at 11.2 million percent, the highest in the world, according to the country's Central Statistical Office.

Official figures dated Monday show inflation has surged from the rate of 2.2 million percent recorded in May, despite the government's price controls.

The country's

Consumer price inflation rate leapt to 4.4 percent in July, the government said Tuesday, making it difficult for the Bank of England to consider lowering interest rates to ward off the risk of recession.

China's politically volatile consumer inflation rate eased in July, but prices rose by a still-high 6.3 percent over the same month last year, a government news agency reported Tuesday.

Zimbabwe unveiled a new monetary policy this week in an attempt to combat severe hyperinflation - out of control price increases as currency loses its value.

While Americans may be feeling the pinch of an inflated dollar buying less, it's short change compared to the Zimbabwe 2,200,000% biting inflation rate.

Worried about the 4 percent rate of inflation in the US? Consider Zimbabwe's shocking 100,000 percent inflation rate, forcing the government to release a 10,000,000 dollar note (equivalent to less than $4 USD).

Here are world currencies inflated beyond reason.

Consumer inflation, after pushing relentlessly higher, posted its mildest reading in six months in February thanks to energy and food costs moderating.

The relief, however, was expected to be short-lived, given that energy prices have resumed their upward climb.

No good news today on the economic front. Consumer confidence plunged, the wholesale inflation rate soared, the number of homes being foreclosed jumped, home prices fell sharply and a report predicts big increases in health care costs.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowered its estimates for U.S. growth while also raising its inflation outlook.

The day's economic data backed up those troubling forecasts. But stocks rose as policymakers signaled that they'll set aside concerns over price pressures for now.