The Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports are processing an extraordinary number of import containers. Although the three months after the holidays are generally the quietest of the year, this first quarter broke records and that activity points to the tip of the global economic recovery. … READ MORE >
Blog
How pandemic savings might have saved the day
The mix of savings, pent-up demand for services and what we think will be an increase in productivity-enhancing investments by businesses will provide a multiyear period of above-trend growth. … READ MORE >
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of April 12
This week we highlight the backstory of challenges that have haunted the AstraZeneca vaccine efforts, machine learning that improves drug delivery, genetically modified mosquitoes and more. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Housing is on fire
Housing starts skyrocketed 19.4% in March to 1.739 million, blowing past expectations of 1.613 million and well above the 1.5 million long-term equilibrium, according to government data released Friday. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: In retail sales data, consumers are ready to get out of the house
The March retail sales data showed just how much pent-up demand exists in the economy, and people are ready to travel around the country again. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims: Large decline as workers return
First-time jobless claims declined to 576,000 for the week ending April 10, which is the lowest since March 2020 as individuals begin streaming back into the labor force and the economy begins to reopen on the back of vaccinations and fiscal aid. … READ MORE >
Robust rebound in March retail sales
The combined impact of a weather-related resumption of household spending and $680 billion in fiscal aid checks working their way through the economy stimulated a robust 9.8% rebound in top-line March retail sales. … READ MORE >
3 things to know in energy: signs of oil upswing, petrochemicals in Canada, Biden’s jobs plan
Biweekly, we round up news and analysis about three things going on in the energy industry that we think you should know about. Here’s the latest. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: U.S. food prices likely past pandemic peak
Food prices increased by 3.5% in March, according to recent government data, and those increases are likely to become more muted as global supply chains move back toward full production in the near term. … READ MORE >
Clean energy infrastructure is key part of Biden’s jobs plan
In the energy space alone, the plan would have important implications for tax incentives, the shift toward renewables, carbon capture efforts, the electric vehicle market and more. … READ MORE >