_{ELECTION NEWS}

Survey Shows More Americans Favor Donald Trump Over Biden for Presidential Leadership

A recent ABC/Ipsos poll reveals that more Americans trust former President Donald Trump over President Biden to lead the United States as commander in chief, with Trump receiving 36% support compared to Biden's 33%. About 30% of respondents trust neither candidate. The survey also indicates that voters approve of Trump's handling of key issues such as inflation, crime, the southern border crisis, gun violence, and the economy more than Biden's. On immigration, 45% of respondents approve of Trump's approach, while only 29% support Biden's handling of the southern border crisis. Only 37% approve of Biden's handling of the economy, compared to 49% for Trump. However, Biden is viewed more favorably on abortion and climate change, with 47% approving of his handling of abortion and 42% on climate change, compared to 35% and 33% for Trump, respectively. The poll was conducted March 8-9, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. Read More.

_{FINANCIAL FOCUS}

Analysis of February Inflation: Identifying the Sectors with the Highest Price Increases

Inflation in February rose faster than expected, driven by higher rent and gasoline costs. The consumer price index increased by 0.4% from the previous month and 3.2% from the same time last year. Housing costs, particularly rent, were a significant contributor to inflation, with rent prices rising 0.4% for the month and 5.8% annually. Food prices remained unchanged in February, but grocery prices are still up 1% annually. Energy prices saw a 2.3% increase, with gasoline prices jumping 3.8%. Used car prices rose by 0.5%, while new car prices slightly decreased by 0.1%. Auto insurance costs surged by 0.9% in February, marking a 20.6% increase from the previous year. Airline ticket prices also rose by 3.6% over the month. Read Now.