We estimate that there is an approximately 18-month lag between changes in housing prices and those in the housing inflation components. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims inch down amid tight labor market
New filings for jobless benefits inched down by 1,000 last week from 218,000, remaining near their historical lows, according to government data released Thursday. … READ MORE >
Job openings and manufacturing production grow more than expected
Job openings came in hotter than expected in September, suggesting that the imbalance in the labor market will take longer to resolve than originally anticipated. … READ MORE >
Inflation persists as spending rebounds strongly in September
Friday’s macro data drop continued to require the Federal Reserve to have its foot on the pedal: while inflation data came out slightly better than expected, the key wage inflation metric—the employment cost index—remained elevated, according to the Labor Department. On top of that, spending was much better than expected in September together with an upward revision to August’s print. That means the economy can absorb more monetary tightening. … READ MORE >
U.S. new home sales fell 10.9% in September
The steep rise in mortgage rates has been the number one reason for the fall in demand. As the Federal Reserve increases interest rates to combat inflation, mortgage rates have spiked to a multi-decade high of more than 7%. … READ MORE >
Consumer confidence falls in October amid inflation concern
Consumer confidence fell below expectations in October as inflation concern persists. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index was down to 102.5 from 107.8 from a month earlier. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims fall below pre-pandemic level
New claims for jobless benefits fell by 5.3% to 214,000, below the pre-pandemic average in 2019 as layoffs remain historically low. … READ MORE >
U.S. housing starts continue to fall amid rate hikes
New housing starts fell by 8.1% in September as the impact of rising mortgage rates worked through the housing market. … READ MORE >
Consumer sentiment rises despite worsening inflation expectations
Consumer sentiment rose for the fifth straight month to 59.8 in October but a worsening inflation outlook clouded the otherwise positive news. … READ MORE >
Retail sales stay flat as inflation remains elevated
American consumer spending was unchanged in September, held back mainly by auto and gasoline sales as prices at the pump and auto dealers fell on the month. … READ MORE >