Even as prices have soared in recent months, American workers are earning more than they did before the pandemic as the overall gains in their wages have outpaced inflation over the past two years. The real average hourly wage rate in December—which is adjusted for inflation and is an indicator for ... READ MORE >
Coronavirus
Initial U.S. jobless claims exceed pre-pandemic level as omicron variant sets in
New filings for U.S. jobless benefits last week rose to 230,000 from 207,000 the week before, exceeding the average pre-pandemic level for the first time in six weeks as the impact of the omicron variant began to be felt in the labor market. The unexpected increase in new claims was also influenced by ... READ MORE >
RSM Canada Supply Chain Index shows continued strain
Supply chain disruptions in Canada worsened in December as businesses continued to be hindered by the fallout from flooding in British Columbia and a shortage of workers. The RSM Canada Supply Chain Index stands at 2.17 standard deviations below zero, down from 1.47, in a sign of just how persistent ... READ MORE >
RSM Canada Financial Conditions Index shows the return of risk
Risk is being reintroduced into Canada’s financial markets as investment decisions and monetary policy begin to pivot from interest rates at the zero bound. Though the rates are still far lower than in normal times, three-month Treasury bills have moved off recent lows, with the forward market now ... READ MORE >
Price stability now a paramount concern as inflation hits 7%
Price stability: Learn it, know it and love it because that is what the Federal Reserve will be talking about over the next two years as the central bank attempts to craft a soft landing following an increase in the Consumer Price Index to a 7% annual rate in December. The Consumer Price Index data ... READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Inflation and labor shortages pressure small businesses
Inflation and labor shortages continued to put pressure on small businesses as the Small Business Optimism Index in December remained below its pre-pandemic level, up only 0.5 points to 98.9, according to a report from the National Federation of Independent Business on Tuesday. Nearly a quarter, or ... READ MORE >
Monetary and fiscal policy in a changing economy: The Fed’s mandate for price stability
This is the second of four articles examining monetary and fiscal policy and the Federal Reserve’s response to the most significant issues of today’s economy. The first article examines the Fed’s challenge in meeting its mandate for full employment. This article looks at the Fed’s other mandate, for price ... READ MORE >
Canada’s jobs report shows strong gains among full-time workers
Canada added 55,000 jobs in December, rounding out the year on a strong note, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Friday. The entire gain in jobs occurred in full-time employment, which added 123,000 jobs, while part-time employment declined by 68,000. While the unemployment rate ... READ MORE >
U.S. December jobs report: Economy has strongest year of job creation on record
Recovery, resilience and reimagination are apt descriptions of the American economy two years into a debilitating pandemic. Like a bruised prizefighter in the late rounds of a championship match, the American economy closed the year on a strong note by adding 199,000 jobs in December. Once one ... READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Service sector grew at slower pace in December
The purchasing managers’ index for the service sector grew at a much slower rate in December as supply chain delays continued to put a drag on service activities, according to a report Thursday from the Institute for Supply Management. The slower rate of growth will most likely persist given that the ... READ MORE >