The U.S. homebuilder confidence index continued to reach new heights, rising to 85 in October, according to data from the National Association of Home Builders released on Monday. … READ MORE >
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The search for a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine
Americans are tired of the pandemic and the economic, health and political fallout we have collectively experienced from it. While there may be disagreement about the best way to approach the pandemic, it is generally held that a safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine that can be manufactured and distributed at scale is a critical step toward economic recovery. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: A shifting holiday spending calendar
The pulling forward of Amazon Prime days to mid-October may have something to do with the changing expectations around spending, inventories and advertising ahead of the holiday season. … READ MORE >
Holiday sales to limp forward as pandemic weighs on economy
Holiday spending is likely to advance at a tepid 0.5% pace as households still reeling from the pandemic pull back on traditional and experiential holiday outlays. … READ MORE >
Agriculture sector gets a reprieve with rising foodstuff prices
Foodstuff commodity prices have recovered lost ground, returning to January levels after five straight months of declines from March to July. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Retail sales surge, but for how long?
Retail sales showed unexpected strength, rising by 1.9% over August for the fifth straight monthly gain, the Commerce Department reported on Friday. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Rising optimism among small businesses
The small business optimism index rose 3.8 points to 104 in September, the highest reading since February, according to a report by the National Federation of Independent Business. … READ MORE >
Jobless claims continue to rise to highest level since August
The four-week moving average of first-time claims for unemployment insurance stands at 866,250, which is well above the monthly hiring pace of 661,000 that was posted in September and will likely be well above the top-line hiring number in October. … READ MORE >
Coronavirus update: Regarding immunity and the severity of infection
A central riddle of the novel coronavirus is immunity: Can people become immune to infection? And does herd immunity work? … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Glory days for used car salesmen
A confluence of trends linked to the pandemic – including the fleeing of millennials to the suburbs and a rising preference for private transportation – has driven the price of used automobiles up by the quickest monthly gain since 1969, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. … READ MORE >