The American economy posted 4% growth in the fourth quarter as the recovery from the depths of the pandemic decelerated into the end of 2020. … READ MORE >
Blog
FOMC meeting: Fed adds to debate on further fiscal aid
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Wednesday that the arrival of vaccines has bolstered the economic outlook for later this year and noted the role of monetary policy in combating the adverse economic impact caused by the pandemic. … READ MORE >
Economic recovery drives up raw material prices
As manufacturing activity rebounds, companies are experiencing not just volatility in demand but also in raw material prices, which have been rising. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: U.S. durable goods orders rise for eighth straight month
Orders for long-lasting factory goods increased in December, according to U.S. Department of Commerce data released on Wednesday. New orders for durable goods rose 0.2% to a seasonally adjusted $245.3 billion in December, following an upwardly revised 1.2% gain (previously 1%) in November. … READ MORE >
Economic policy primer: The difference between aid and stimulus
Why is trillions in spending needed to combat the economic downturn of the coronavirus? The answer is in the difference between fiscal aid and stimulus and the lessons learned from the policy response to the 2008 financial crisis. … READ MORE >
The Biden administration’s suspension on federal drilling permits: an explainer
In line with President Joe Biden’s campaign promises, the U.S. Department of the Interior last week under his new administration suspended approvals of new oil and gas drilling permits and leases across domestic federal lands for 60 days. … READ MORE >
How regulatory oversight may change at five agencies under Biden
With President Joe Biden’s cabinet taking shape, regulated entities in the financial services industry like banks, specialty lenders and capital markets firms are starting to get a better picture of what changes might be in store. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: West Coast container activity suggests an end-of-year pause in the recovery
Import activity at West Coast ports continues to anticipate robust consumer demand despite rising prices and the first hint of a pause caused by the resurgence in the coronavirus at the end of the year. … READ MORE >
U.S. precautionary savings and the coming economic expansion
Savings by American households have soared to $1.1 trillion above their long-term average from 1965 to 2020. That excess savings and near-term policy decisions around fiscal aid and stimulus will play a large role in determining the shape, scale and duration of what we expect to be the coming economic expansion. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Institutional investors warm to digital assets
There is increasing evidence that institutional investors are looking to invest in digital assets. Grayscale reported that its average institutional allocation in the fourth quarter of last year was $6.8 million, more than double the average in the previous quarter. Total contributions for the period totaled $3.3 billion. … READ MORE >