The January meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee this week presents the central bank with an opportunity to reinforce its forward guidance, which is most likely not going to change for years. … READ MORE >
Coronavirus
CHART OF THE DAY: Manufacturing upturn strongest since 2014
Driven by new orders, U.S. manufacturing output growth accelerated in January at the second-fastest rate in almost six years, according to the IHS Markit Flash U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index. … READ MORE >
The changing holiday shopping season
For many retailers, the recent holiday shopping season was unlike any other as they contended with the disruption of the pandemic and its effect on consumer behavior. The result was a more extended holiday shopping season this year by design. … READ MORE >
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of Jan. 18
This week, we look at new officials in the government’s COVID-19 response effort, how changes in technology and bioethics are driving clinical trial diversity, and how robotics continues to change surgery and medical device manufacturing. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Housing activity continues to surge
Housing starts rose by 5.8% to an annualized rate of 1.67 million in December, ending the year as one of the strongest in a decade. And housing permits, an indicator of future activity, increased as well, by 4.5% to an annualized rate of 1.7 million in December. … READ MORE >
First-time jobless claims remain elevated
Initial jobless claims declined to 900,000 for the week ending Jan. 16, down from 965,000 the week before but well above the pre-pandemic high established in 1982. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: The SPAC boom accelerates
With January about half over, announced listings for SPACs have already surpassed the combined total for the first five months of 2020. At this pace, January will match or possibly exceed the record-setting month of last September, when announced listings peaked. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Major economies to bolster spending in 2021
Pandemic-induced fiscal operations and monetary accommodation have pushed nominal and real policy rates into negative terrain, while aid to offset lost jobs and income has soared into the trillions around the G-7 economies. … READ MORE >
Biden outlines next round of fiscal aid
President-elect Joe Biden put forward an ambitious $1.9 trillion fiscal aid plan to address the public health crisis, the damage caused to the economy by the pandemic and the rollout of a national vaccination program. … READ MORE >
5 things to know this week in life sciences: Week of Jan. 11
News this week included Bluebird Bio’s announcement about splitting into two companies, the promise of quantum computing in drug design, and how mRNA platforms offer promise for diseases beyond COVID-19. … READ MORE >