Just when optimism was returning to the global economy, a shortage of microchips threatens the automobile industry and a container ship gets stuck in the Suez Canal, threatening the global supply chain. … READ MORE >
Coronavirus
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of March 22
This week we highlight AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine challenges, FDA trends, drug-pricing reform hearings and more. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Manufacturing sector leading the way out of recession
The economic downturn caused by the pandemic has had many unusual dynamics, and one of these is that the manufacturing sector, along with housing, is leading the way to recovery. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims drop below 700,000 for first time in a year
While first-time claims remain elevated, they are moving in a constructive direction. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: New home sales drop 18.2% in February as market cools
New home sales fell 18.2% in February compared to January to a seasonally adjusted 775,000 — a nine-month low. At the same time, median home prices eased 1% to $349,400 nationally, according to government data released on Tuesday. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Rail deal is a sign of increasing North American economic integration
Canadian Pacific’s $25 billion deal to purchase Kansas City Southern would create the first railroad network covering Canada, Mexico and the United States. … READ MORE >
Federal Reserve to end supplemental leverage ratio capital break
The Federal Reserve announced on Friday that it would not extend an important rule accommodation put in place last spring that helped banks continue to lend to small and medium-size businesses as the economic effects of the pandemic took hold. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Signs of increasing foreign investment in the U.S. and the dollar
February data from the government’s Treasury International Capital reporting system—which tracks capital flows into and out of the United States—provided another strong signal that the nascent economic recovery is quickly turning into a full-blown expansion. … READ MORE >
Weekly jobless claims: A grim anniversary as claims rise to 770,000
Top-line initial claims for unemployment benefits increased to 770,000 versus an expected decline to 700,000 for the week ending March 13, according to government data released Thursday. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Deflating the hype on inflation
While we do expect the year-ago effects brought on by the global pandemic to result in a period of moderate reflation in the economy, the longer-term outlook implies that elevated inflation will be transitory and give way to price stability. … READ MORE >