The Federal Reserve, which uses the core inflation rate to decide its policy in creating economic conditions that will keep inflation at a low level and create jobs, may be worried now that the consumer now may now begin spending less and saving more as food and gas prices rise.

FORBES: March CPI: Increase In Line With Expectations

How do you even get to keep the unemployment level so low?

CNN: Transcript of June 'CNN Money Summit: Money & Main St.'

You can find out more about their recommendations on my blog at www.moneysucks.net but simple steps you can take include making sure that your pipes are well lagged and that you keep your heating on at a low level while you are away.

BBC: Fergus Muirhead

The Fed has pledged to keep US interest rates at their record low level until the US unemployment rate falls below 6.5%.

BBC: US Fed's Ben Bernanke hails benefits of stimulus

The company has come under fire in Europe for its tax policies, where it uses legal schemes to keep payments to government tax departments at a low level.

BBC: Starbucks revenue and customers growing

Inflation is low and unlikely to pick up, which means that the Federal Reserve will probably keep short-term rates at their present low level for a long while and long-term rates are likely to stay down too.

ECONOMIST: Better to feast on cookies than junk bonds

However, we need to keep in mind that China started from a very low level of GDP.

FORBES: China's Not A Superpower--Yet