Norcal Basketball Regional

guys

Open department

Wednesday games

No. 5 Modesto Christian (24-8) against No. 4 Salesian (26-3) in Albany, 7 p.m.

Half -final on Saturday

No. 5 Modesto Christian or No. 4 Salesians at No. 1 Archbishop Riordan (27-1), 7 p.m.

No. 3 Folsom (28-3) in No. 2 by La Salle (27-4), 7 p.m.

Division I.

Tuesday games

No. 1 Indderkum 69, No. 16 California 43

No. 8 Oakland Tech 71, No. 9 Redwood 57

No. 5 San Ramon Valley 61, No. 12 San Joaquin Memorial 56

No. 13 Liberty 71, No. 4 Clovis North 67

No. 3 Lincoln-Stockton 57, No. 14 Clovis West 46

No. 11 Moreau Catholic 84, No. 6 Dougherty Valley 76, OT

No. 10 St. Ignatius 65, No. 7 Dublin 62

No. 2 Buchanan-Clovis 59, No. 15 Monterey Trail-Elk Grove 46

The quarter -finals on Thursday

No. 8 Oakland Tech (24-5) at No. 1 Indderkum (29-2), 7 p.m.

No. 13 Liberty (26-3) in San Ramon Valley No. 5 (22-9), 7 p.m.

No. 11 Moreau Catholic (26-5) at No. 3 Lincoln-Stockton (28-4), 7 p.m.

No. 10 St. Ignatius (21-8) at No. 2 Buchanan-Clovis (27-5), 7 p.m.

Division II

Tuesday games

No. 1 Rocklin 70, No. 16 Bullard 61

No. 8 Clayton Valley 59, No. 9 Serra 38

No. 5 Destiny Christian 58, No. 12 Menlo Atheron 38

No. 13 Oakland 59, No. 4 Valley Christian 45

No. 3 Jesuit-Carmichael 64, No. 14 Bellarmine 50

No. 6 Archbishop Mitty 59, No. 11 Branson 55

No. 7 Clovis East 67, No. 10 Cardinal Newman 61

No. 2 Millpites 68, No. 15 Woodcreek 67, OT

The quarter -finals on Thursday

No. 8 Clayton Valley (22-12) in No. 1 Rocklin (25-8), 7 p.m.

No. 13 Oakland (22-8) at No. 5 Destiny Christian (20-12), 7 p.m.

No. 6 Archbishop Mitty (15-13) at No. 3 Jesuit-Carmichael (23-9), 7 p.m.

No. 7 Clovis East (20-10) at No. 2 Milpitas (24-4), 7 p.m.

Division III

Tuesday games

No. 1 The King's Academy 68, No. 16 Pleasant Valley 47

No. 9 Aptos 67, No. 8 San Domenico 54

No. 5 Carlmont 58, No. 12 of the Capitan-Merced 49

No. 4 Universityan Francisco 76, No. 13 Half Moon Bay 66

No. 14 Enterprise-Redding 46, No. 3 Christopher 40

No. 6 Palo Alto 61, No. 11 FOHILL-PALO CEDRO 51

No. 7 Carmel 58, No. 10 Central-Fresno 49

No. 2 Christian Brothers Sacramento 61, No. 15 Sacred Heart Prep 44

The quarter -finals on Thursday

No. 9 Aptos (25-6) on the King's Academy (24-4), 7 p.m.

No. 5 Carlmont (18-10) at No. 4 University-San Francisco (22-11), 7 p.m.

No. 14 Enterprise-Redding (16-13) at No. 6 Palo Alto (23-5), 7 p.m.

No. 7 Carmel (20-7) at No. 2 Christian Brothers Sacramento (26-7), 7 p.m.

Division IV

Tuesday games

No. 1 Priorat 64, No. 16 Washington-San Francisco 53

No. 8 NATOMAS 84, No. 9 Piedmont 71

No. 5 Berkeley 64, No. 12 Ripon Christian 61

No. 4 Palma 52, No. 13 San Mateo 47

No. 3 Santa Cruz 68, No. 14 Venture Academy 56

No. 6 St. Patrick-St. Vincent 78, No. 11 Burbank 57

No. 7 House Roble 49, No. 10 Twelve Bridges 43

No. 15 Lincoln-San Francisco 77, No. 2 Westmont 66

The quarter -finals on Thursday

No. 8 NATOMAS (25-8) on Priorat No. 1 (22-6), 7 p.m.

No. 5 Berkeley (16-15) at No. 4 Palma (21-7), 7 p.m.

No. 6 St. Patrick-St. Vincent (16-13) at No. 3 Santa Cruz (20-11), 7 p.m.

No. 15 Lincoln-San Francisco (22-9) at No. 7 Casa Rauble (29-4), 7 p.m.

Division V

Tuesday games

No. 1 Prep-Redding 51 of the University, No. 16 Durham 49

No. 8 Girdley 41, No. 9 Bret Harte 40

No. 12 Unraut 70, No. 5 Middletown 63

No. 4 Fortune Early College 80, No. 13 Portola 57

No. 3 Argonaut 72, No. 14 Chowchilla 49

No. 6 Alhambra 51, No. 11 West Valley 39

No. 7 International-San Francisco 58, No. 10 Orland 46

No. 15 Sonoma Valley 73, No. 2 Woodland Christian 61

The quarter -finals on Thursday

No. 8 Girdley (25-5) at No. 1 University Prep-Redding (25-8), 7 p.m.

No. 12 weeds (25-6) at Fortune Early College No. 4 (22-8), 7 p.m.

No. 6 Alhambra (17-14) at No. 3 Argonaut (26-7), 7 p.m.

No. 15 SONOMA Valley (18-15) at No. 7 International-San Francisco (21-12), 7 p.m.

Division VI

Wednesday games

No. 8 Mendocino (18-8) at No. 1 Redding Christian (27-3), 7 p.m.

No. 5 St. Vincent de Paul (19-11) in No. 4 Sacramento Waldorf (27-3), 7 p.m.

No. 6 Biggs (18-9) in No. 3 St. Bernard's-Eureka (22-5), 7 p.m.

No. 7 Point Arena (21-4) at No. 2 Stone Ridge Christian (23-8), 7 p.m.

Girl

Open department

Wednesday games

No. 5 McClatchy (24-6) at No. 4 Acalanes (27-2), 7 p.m.

No. 6 Pinewood (23-4) in San Ramon Valley No. 3 (27-3), 7 p.m.

Half -final on Saturday

No. 5 McClatchy or No. 4 Acalanes at No. 1 Archbishop Mitty (25-3), 7 p.m.

No. 6 Pinewood or No. 3 San Ramon Valley in No. 2 Clovis West (32-0), 7 p.m.

Division I.

Tuesday games

No. 16 San Joaquin Memorial 84, No. 1 Folsom 74

No. 9 Piedmont 60, No. 8 Oakland Tech 29

No. 5 Priory 50, No. 12 Central-Fresno 45

No. 4 St. Mary's-Stockton 67, No. 13 Pleasant Valley-Chico 43

NO. 3 Carondelet 62, No. 14 St. Francis 57

No. 11 Bishop O'Dowd 45, No. 6 Archbishop Riordan 39

No. 7 Cardinal Newman 68, No. 10 St. Ignatius 47

No. 2 Clovis 63, No. 15 OAK Ridge 52

The quarter -finals on Thursday

No. 16 San Joaquin Memorial (23-6) in No. 9 Piedmont (24-5), 7 p.m.

No. 5 Priorat (23-5) at No. 4 St. Mary's-Stockton (18-13), 7 p.m.

No. 11 Bishop O'Dowd (20-8) at No. 3 Carondelet (26-6), 7 p.m.

No. 7 Cardinal Newman (26-5) at No. 2 Clovis (25-5), 7 p.m.

Division II

Tuesday games

No. 1 Caruthers (22-6), bye

No. 8 Sacred Heart Cathedral 44, No. 9 Christian Brothers 40

No. 5 California 58, No. 12 cats 40

No. 13 Redwood 66, No. 4 Lincoln-Stockton 52

No. 3 Colfax 64, No. 14 Clovis East 37

No. 6 Salesian 48, No. 11 Whitney-Rocklin 41

No. 7 Atwater 58, No. 10 Valley Christian 39

No. 2 Sierra Pacific-Hanford 66, No. 15 Grant-Sacramento 61

The quarter -finals on Thursday

No. 8 Sacred Heart Cathedral (15-13) at No. 1 Caruthers (23-6), 7 p.m.

No. 13 Redwood (24-9) at No. 5 California (22-11), 7 p.m.

No. 6 Salesian (21-10) at No. 3 Colfax (27-6), 7 p.m.

No. 7 Atwater (28-5) at No. 2 Sierra Pacific-Hanford (24-8), 7 p.m.

Division III

Tuesday games

No. 1 Immanuel-Reedley 66, No. 16 East Union-Manca 48

No. 8 Chico 50, No. 9 Dougherty Valley 47

No. 12 Menlo-Atherton 53, No. 5 Ponderosa-Shingle Springs 49

No. 4 Justin-Siena 73, No. 13 Evergreen Valley 39

No. 3 Marin Catholic 61, No. 14 Christopher 44

No. 6 Menlo School 45, No. 11 St. Bernard's-Eureka 41

No. 7 Moreau Catholic 45, No. 10 University Prep-Redding 39

No. 2 Shasta-Redding 58, No. 15 Harker 48

The quarter -finals on Thursday

No. 8 Chico (17-13) at No. 1 Immanuel-Reedley (28-5), 7 p.m.

No. 12 Menlo-Atherton (20-8) at No. 4 Justin-Siena (28-3), 7 p.m.

No. 6 Menlo School (19-8) at Marin Catholic (22-11) No. 3, 7 p.m., 7 p.m.

No. 7 Moreau Catholic (23-8) at No. 2 Shasta-Redding (21-5), 7 p.m.

Division IV

Tuesday games

No. 1 Liberty Ranch-Galt 41, No. 16 Colusa 37

No. 9 Lowell-SF 47, No. 8 Notre Dame Belmont 37

No. 5 Mills 49, No. 12 Bret hard 30

No. 13 Castilleja 44, No. 4 Riverbank 43

No. 3 Rio Linda 47, No. 14 Fortuna 38

No. 6 Marysville 55, No. 11 Prospect 40

No. 7 West Campus-Sacramento 36, No. 10 Notre Dame San Jose 27

No. 2 Half Moon Bay 52, No. 15 St. Patrick-St. Vincent 45

The quarter -finals on Thursday

No. 9 Lowell-SF (19-7) at No. 1 Liberty Ranch-Galt (30-2), 7 p.m.

NO. 13 Castilleja (22-3) at No. 5 million (18-10), 7 p.m.

No. 6 Marysville (24-8) at No. 3 Rio Linda (28-4), 7 p.m.

No. 7 West Campus-Sacramento (25-5) in No. 2 Half Moon Bay (8-7), 7 p.m.

Division V

Tuesday games

No. 1 summit Shasta 64, No. 16 Skyline 55

No. 9 Washington-San Francisco 51, No. 8 Modoc 45

No. 5 Orland 65, No. 12 Cloverdale 61

No. 4 Encinal 67, No. 13 Argonaut 36

No. 3 Head-Royce 59, No. 14 Fortune Early College 39

No. 11 Durham 59, No. 6 West Valley-Cottonwood 42

No. 7 Trinity-Weaverville 50, No. 10 Sonoma Valley 41

No. 2 Woodland Christian 54, No. 15 Fort Bragg 40

The quarter -finals on Thursday

No. 9 Washington-San Francisco (12-6) on No. 1 summit Shasta (18-6), 7 p.m.

No. 5 Orland (23-8) at No. 4 Encinal (20-9), 7 p.m.

No. 11 Durham (20-8) at No. 3 Head-Royce (8-4), 7 p.m.

No. 7 Trinity-Weaverville (24-7) at No. 2 Woodland Christian (27-6), 7 p.m.

Division VI

Wednesday games

No. 8 Fall River-McArthur (13-13) in No. 1 Ferndale (5-9), 7 p.m.

No. 5 Cornerstone Christian (20-10) at No. 4 Sacramento Adventist (21-7), 7 p.m.

No. 6 St. Vincent de Paul (17-12) at No. 3 Weed (25-6), 7 p.m.

No. 7 Round Valley (17-5) at No. 2 Faith Christian-Yuba City (26-2), 7 p.m.

Originally published: March 4, 2025 at 9:40 p.m. PST

The US economy is slowing, but not crashing. In the dark sciencethat's excellent news.

That's the message I took away from it current inflation datapublished on May 15, 2024, that showed US consumer prices rise 3.4% within the 12 months ending April 2024. This is a slight decrease from the three.5% year-on-year increase reported in March 2024.

In other words, prices are rising, but not as much as they used to. That's excellent news for buyers. The US economy is much from that 9.1% annual inflation seen in June 2022.

While energy and housing prices rose in April, these increases were relatively modest. Meanwhile, food prices remained stable in comparison with last 12 months and even fell by 0.2% in comparison with March. In addition, automotive buyers were lucky: prices for brand spanking new and used cars fell 0.4% and 6.9%, respectively, in April.

The “core” consumer price index – This doesn’t take volatile food and energy prices under consideration and is usually considered to be higher at predicting future inflation than the so-called “overall” CPI numbers – has also fallen barely. After recording a year-on-year increase of three.9% in January and three.8% in February and March, it slowed to three.6% in April.

So the general report is comparatively positive: it didn’t show the rise in inflation that many consumers feared, and the reported inflation rates were actually barely below market expectations.

As an economistI see this data report as further evidence that economic growth is slowing – in a superb way. The economy grew by a lower than expected rate of 1.6% in the primary quarter of 2024, in accordance with the most recent gross domestic product data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The latest job report also showed a Slowdown in hiringand the most recent data on vacancies also showed a slowdown within the labor market.

Why the Fed is watching closely

The predominant goal of the Federal Reserve is that this discover a balance between two goals: Maintaining stable employment and ensuring price stability. This is finished by controlling and influencing rates of interest.

Lowering rates of interest stimulates the economy, which promotes economic growth and job creation – but that may fuel inflation. An rate of interest increase has the alternative effect: economic growth slows, which curbs inflation but additionally hinders employment.

When inflation began to rise dramatically within the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve responded with a two-year campaign of rate of interest hikes – currently at a 23-year high. Because this raises the price of borrowing, investors and potential homebuyers are fascinated about seeing the Fed lower rates of interest.

After the May report, I don't think the Federal Reserve shall be in a rush to chop rates of interest from their current high levels. There is a slowdown, however the slowdown is so regular that it shouldn’t be dragging prices down at a rapid rate.

This is undoubtedly frustrating for the Fed – the one… Inflation goal of two% – in addition to for potential home buyers. But it’s evidence that the economy is currently stable. Inflation shouldn’t be rising and consumer spending remains to be rising, in accordance with the Bureau of Economic Analysis. March, Consumer spending increased 5.8% 12 months over 12 monthsa rise from the February rate of 4.9%.

All eyes are on the American buyer

For the longer term we hope for a “soft landing“ — in economist jargon, if the Fed slows inflation without triggering a recession — will depend largely on U.S. buyers. Consumer spending balances out about two thirds of US gross domestic product.

If American shoppers suddenly stop spending, inflation will slow significantly, job opportunities will disappear and the gross domestic product could shrink. At that time, the Fed will turn its attention from inflation to stimulus and rates of interest will fall.

I mention this because a recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis showed that… Worrying rise in consumer bank card default rates. If much of the recent increase in consumer spending is on account of Americans relying more heavily on bank cards, then the economy could also be on shakier ground than it seems.

The excellent news is that crime rates are still well below where they were last 12 months Great Recession that lasted from December 2007 to June 2009. While this data could also be worrying, there isn’t any must panic just yet.

In short: Even if inflation rates are still not within the Fed's favor, the economy appears to be on a stable path – for now.