Manufacturing grew at a slower rate in back-to-back months as labor shortages continued to hamper production while demand moderated from January’s high. … READ MORE >
Coronavirus
Consumers spent more in March despite rising inflation
American consumers defied rising inflation and market uncertainties in March, continuing to spend more on goods and services as their wages increased and they saved less. … READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: Decelerating growth as tensions mount
The RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index is signaling the potential of further economic moderation from rising prices and slowing demand. … READ MORE >
Canada’s inflation hits 6.7% as the global oil shock sets in
Inflation in Canada hit 6.7% in March, up from 5.7% in February and the largest year-over-year increase since January 1991 as supply chain disruptions, the war in Ukraine and a reopening economy all had an effect. … READ MORE >
Inflation marches higher, hitting 8.5% compared to a year ago
Long ago and far away, it was once taught that inflation has long and variable lags. That still probably applies when setting policy, managing a portfolio or making longer-term investments as top-line inflation jumped by 1.2% in March to 8.5% on a year-ago basis, according to government data released Tuesday. … … READ MORE >
Canada’s unemployment rate lowest in nearly five decades
Canada added 73,000 jobs in March, a relatively modest gain that still helped push the unemployment rate down to 5.3%, the lowest since 1976. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Initial jobless claims lowest in 54 years
New filings for jobless benefits fell to 166,000 last week—the fewest since 1968—as millions of job vacancies remained unfilled, the Labor Department reported on Thursday. … READ MORE >
RSM U.S. Financial Conditions Index: Pricing in the cost of uncertainty
The RSM US Financial Conditions Index remains more than 0.2 standard deviations below normal. This is a indication that investors are requiring additional compensation for the risk of lending and the increased cost of investing in an environment of heightened uncertainty. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Manufacturing slows amid surge in raw material prices
The headline manufacturing purchasing managers’ index was down to 57.1% from 58.6% in February, the lowest since September 2020. … READ MORE >
U.S. March jobs report: American labor market remains red hot
The American labor market remains red hot as the employment-to-population ratio among prime-age workers surged to 80.0% in March, up from 79.5% in February. … READ MORE >