The headline Producer Price Index increased by 0.7% in August, a slower pace than the 1.0% monthly gains in June and July, while the core index excluding food and energy rose by 0.6%, according to government data released Friday. The lower numbers indicate that inflation, at least from the sellers' ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Job openings set another record at 10.9 million in July
Job openings in the United States reached a record 10.9 million in July, continuing to show that the demand for workers remains strong while employers struggle to fill job vacancies. New hires inched down to 6.7 million and job separations were little changed, at 5.8 million, according to Labor ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: U.S. trade deficit improved in July after a record high
The U.S. trade deficit of goods and services, which measures exports minus imports, declined by $4.6 billion to $70.1 billion in July as domestic demand for foreign goods slowed and foreign countries' needs for U.S. goods rose. Even though this number was in line with the advanced goods trade balance ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Consumer confidence falls amid spread of the delta variant
The headline consumer confidence index released by the Conference Board on Tuesday declined to 113.8 in August from a downwardly revised 125.1 in July in the latest sign that the spread of the delta variant is beginning to weigh on the economy. The decline brings the index to the lowest level since ... READ MORE >
Amid Ida’s devastating human toll, the national economic damage is likely to be limited
Even as Hurricane Ida leaves a trail of disrupted lives, destroyed homes and shattered communities in its wake, the Category 4 storm will in the end most likely have a modest impact on overall U.S. economic activity. In our estimation, the disruption to economic activity, including higher energy ... READ MORE >