The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose 1 percentage point to 58.6 in February, registering the 21st consecutive month of growth. … READ MORE >
Consumer confidence sours but capital spending holds strong
The final estimate for consumer sentiment in February came in slightly higher than the advance estimate, rising to 62.8 from 61.7 previously, yet remaining at a decade low. … READ MORE >
U.S. consumers spend more in January, defying inflation
Personal spending rebounded in January even as inflation rose at the highest rate in decades. … READ MORE >
U.S. new home sales declined in January
New home sales dropped 4.5% in January as high prices and increasing mortgage rates slowed demand. The omicron variant and colder-than-usual weather in January were also factors in the decline. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Initial jobless claims continue to decline
Initial jobless claims last week continued to trend down toward the pre-pandemic level after a period of temporary increases because of the omicron variant. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Consumer confidence slides
Consumer confidence ticked down in February as expectations for the economy softened. … READ MORE >
RSM US Supply Chain Index: Omicron pauses improvement
Stress in the U.S. supply chain increased in January as the omicron surge temporarily put some parts of the overall production to a halt. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Buyers rush into housing market before rate hikes
Investors with all-cash offers flocked into the housing market before rate hikes, helping to push sales of existing homes to 6.5 million in January at an annualized rate. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: U.S. housing permits reach 15-year high
Housing starts declined by 4.1% in January on an annualized rate. But housing starts remained well above the long-term equilibrium for housing supply of around 1.5 million a year. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims rise unexpectedly
New filings for jobless claims rose unexpectedly last week because of large jumps in Missouri and Ohio. New claims advanced to 248,000 from an upwardly revised 225,000 the week before. … READ MORE >