The natural rate of interest, also known as r-start, forms the basis for setting the Fed’s overnight policy rate and, by extension, interest rates across all maturities. … READ MORE >
Coronavirus
Chart of the day: Existing home sales fall 4.6%
Existing home sales in the United States cooled off significantly in December, dropping 4.6% on the month to 6.18 million homes sold amid near-record housing prices and supply constraints. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims reach 13-week high amid omicron variant’s surge
New filings for jobless benefits last week jumped to 286,000, the second sharp increase in a row from 231,000 the week before amid a surge in coronavirus cases. … READ MORE >
Canada inflation highest since 1991 as supply chain disruptions continue
Canada’s consumer price index hit 4.8% in December, the highest since 1991 as supply chain disruptions continued, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Wednesday. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Housing starts and permits end year with upside surprises
The housing market ended the year strong as housing starts and permits rose unexpectedly in December, beating earlier estimates of potential declines. … READ MORE >
Housing starts in Canada fall as materials remain in short supply
Canada’s housing starts in December fell to 236,100, a drop of 22.3% from November because of material shortages following the floods and landslides in British Columbia that kept construction materials stranded at the Port of Vancouver. … READ MORE >
RSM US Supply Chain Index: The worst may have passed, but choppy waters remain
The strength of the supply chain in the United States showed significant improvement for a second straight month in December after reaching a two-decade low in October, according to the newest data from the RSM US Supply Chain Index. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Industrial production inched down in December
The omicron variant’s spread put pressure on industrial production in December as production declined by 0.1%, missing the estimate of a 0.2% increase on the month, according to data from the Federal Reserve on Friday. … READ MORE >
RSM US Financial Conditions Index: A move toward normal
After nearly two years of extreme accommodation in the financial markets, the RSM US Financial Conditions index eased to 0.96 standard deviations above neutral—a sign that markets are starting to price in more risk. … READ MORE >
U.S. retail sales decline despite a strong holiday season
Price pressures and continued labor shortages magnified by the rapid spread of the omicron variant drove retail sales down by a disappointing 1.9% in December. … READ MORE >