While the government layoffs contributed to the increase, new filings for jobless benefits in Washington accounted for only about 2,000 of the 22,000 overall increase. … READ MORE >
Initial claims rise slightly as federal layoffs and wildfire impact was muted
The number of initial claims for jobless benefits rose slightly to 219,000 last week, close to our forecast and the pre-pandemic average of 218,000. … READ MORE >
Market minute: Soft economic landing at risk
Businesses, and the economy overall, face uncertainty amid the regime change in the global economy. … READ MORE >
Housing starts plunge amid severe weather and elevated mortgage rates
The one-time seasonal factors that contributed to the decline should subside. Permits for new buildings and homes held up in January, rising by 0.1%. … READ MORE >
The decline in January retail sales is less concerning than it might seem
The January retail sales report is one of those rare occasions where looking at the 12-month change makes more sense than the monthly metric. … READ MORE >
Producer inflation topped forecasts in January, led by food and energy prices
The producer price index rose by 0.4% in January, following an upwardly revised 0.5% increase in December, making it the hottest two-month stretch of inflation since February last year. … READ MORE >
Consumer sentiment fell amid inflation concerns from trade war
The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index fell to 67.8 in February, the lowest level since July, as sentiment of both current and future conditions deteriorated. … READ MORE >
Labor demand cools in December
Job openings fell to 7.6 million from 8.2 million in November, near the pre-pandemic level and providing the Fed with more relief regarding wage pressure on inflation. … READ MORE >
Strong core business spending hints at another robust GDP report
American business spending on core equipment came in higher than forecast in December, with both orders and shipments pointing to strong growth to end the year. … READ MORE >
U.S. retail sales continued to grow in December
American consumers ended the year on a strong note, with total retail sales rising by 0.4%, … READ MORE >