(FORTUNE Magazine) – INFLATION RIDES AGAIN An unexpectedly strong rise of 0.5% in March's consumer price index raised the specter of inflation--and the probability that the Fed will soon have to boost key short-term interest rates from the current 46-year low of 1%. Imagine: Soon these will be referred to as the good old days.

PUTTING THE PUB IN REPUBLICAN Peter Coors, the 57-year-old chairman of the Coors Brewing Co. (and the great-grandson of Adolph Coors), is seeking the Republican nomination for the Colorado senate seat. "I owe my country a debt of gratitude," he said at his announcement. "I want to serve my country." A free round served by the Coors twins, perhaps?

MONEY IN MANHATTAN John Kerry sure picked the Big Apple. The Democratic presidential candidate took in an eye-popping $6.5 million haul on April 14, smashing the previous one-day record of $4.8 million set by Bush last June. Impressive! Only about $100 million to go till he catches up to Bush's total.

GOOD LUCK, BILL A recent poll of public-company executives shows that 32% would need more than $250,000 (the salary being offered to the winner of The Apprentice) to work for the Donald. Even more telling, 33% say he doesn't have enough money to entice them to work for him. Considering all the flap about Trump's financial woes, it's unclear whether they meant that literally or figuratively.

AN IPOD A DAY For the first time, Apple sold more iPod digital music players than computers, sending second-quarter revenue up 29% and tripling net income. The bad news? Apple is still embroiled in a trademark spat with the Beatles record label, also named Apple: The label is claiming that the computer company's iTunes violates a 1991 deal in which Apple Computer said it would steer clear of the music business. Whoops.

NRA RADIO America's gun lobby is creating a news company so that it can spread its gun rights message. Thereby giving Al Franken something to talk about on his show for at least the next two weeks.