The RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index remained solid in December at 1.3 standard deviations above neutral as the economy continued to expand into the end of the year. But that strength is in question as the omicron variant continues to spread. … READ MORE >
Blog
Consumer confidence surveys reflect a bifurcation of the nation’s economy
Recent readings of consumer confidence are revealing an increasingly bifurcated economy as households continue to grapple with the pandemic. … READ MORE >
Consumer confidence improves despite concern over omicron variant and inflation
The Conference Board’s headline consumer confidence index rose by 3.9 points to 115.8 on the month, the largest increase in three months and the highest since July, according to data from the Conference Board on Wednesday. … READ MORE >
Canada’s retail sales increased by 1.6% in October but new virus threat looms
Retail sales climbed by 1.6% to $57.6 billion in October thanks to rebounding sales of motor vehicles and parts, but the data was captured before the stunning recent surge of the omicron variant. … READ MORE >
Government services contractors continue to contend with labor issues, pandemic fallout
While government services contractors battle a tight labor market and ongoing supply chain disruptions, they emerged from the third quarter of 2021 excited for advances in digital warfare and the future of defense. … READ MORE >
The rise of ESG has growing implications for the tech industry
Technology companies have found themselves in the spotlight given their dominance in the market, sizeable valuations and ever-growing reach into the daily lives of people. … READ MORE >
This week in energy: US LNG capacity, Canada pipelines, Europe’s natural gas supply
In this week’s energy industry analysis, we take a look at the anticipated growth of U.S. liquefied natural gas production, the impact of the British Columbia floods on pipeline operations in Canada, and fears of a natural gas supply disruption in Europe. … READ MORE >
Five things to know in life sciences: Week of Dec. 13
From eye drops that replace glasses to a new Pfizer facility focused on gene therapy, each week we highlight five things to know in life sciences. Here’s the latest. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Supply chain issues ease as demand-pull inflation rises
Estimates of logistics data in the RSM US Supply Chain Index, as seen in the index’s Nowcast, point to improved conditions in the U.S. supply chain heading into the end of the year. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims remain below pre-pandemic level despite seasonal volatility
New filings for jobless benefits last week advanced to 206,000, remaining below the pre-pandemic level in 2019, after falling to a 52-year low the week before. … READ MORE >