This week’s roundup includes reads about a crucial shift in the life sciences ecosystem; the interplay between the digital future of life science, the development of next generation therapeutics, and the promise of personalized medicine. We also take a look at news about COVID-19 variants and drug pricing. … READ MORE >
Coronavirus
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: Mixed results and a potential pause in the recovery
Sentiment among manufacturers has receded again because of a rapid spread of COVID-19 that has taken a toll on the labor market, consumer demand and the economy. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: New home sales bounce back
New home sales bounced back to 842,000 in December, representing a 1.8% increase over the previous month, the Commerce Department reported on Thursday. … READ MORE >
Fourth-quarter GDP: Growth eases as economy decelerates
The American economy posted 4% growth in the fourth quarter as the recovery from the depths of the pandemic decelerated into the end of 2020. … READ MORE >
FOMC meeting: Fed adds to debate on further fiscal aid
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Wednesday that the arrival of vaccines has bolstered the economic outlook for later this year and noted the role of monetary policy in combating the adverse economic impact caused by the pandemic. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: U.S. durable goods orders rise for eighth straight month
Orders for long-lasting factory goods increased in December, according to U.S. Department of Commerce data released on Wednesday. New orders for durable goods rose 0.2% to a seasonally adjusted $245.3 billion in December, following an upwardly revised 1.2% gain (previously 1%) in November. … READ MORE >
Economic policy primer: The difference between aid and stimulus
Why is trillions in spending needed to combat the economic downturn of the coronavirus? The answer is in the difference between fiscal aid and stimulus and the lessons learned from the policy response to the 2008 financial crisis. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: West Coast container activity suggests an end-of-year pause in the recovery
Import activity at West Coast ports continues to anticipate robust consumer demand despite rising prices and the first hint of a pause caused by the resurgence in the coronavirus at the end of the year. … READ MORE >
U.S. precautionary savings and the coming economic expansion
Savings by American households have soared to $1.1 trillion above their long-term average from 1965 to 2020. That excess savings and near-term policy decisions around fiscal aid and stimulus will play a large role in determining the shape, scale and duration of what we expect to be the coming economic expansion. … READ MORE >
U.K. financial conditions, growth and the pandemic
Despite a surge in new cases of coronavirus infections in England, the RSM UK Financial Conditions Index remains 0.1 standard deviations above neutral as investors focus on what is expected to be a strong economic rebound this year. We expect growth to expand at 4.2% this year and 7% next year. … READ MORE >