October’s personal income and spending data released by the government on Wednesday gave more reasons to end the short Thanksgiving week on a good note. Personal income rose by 0.5% on the month, beating expectations of a 0.2% increase, … READ MORE >
Economics
Surprises in jobless claims and goods trade make up for decline in durable goods orders
Encouraging economic news came from the early release of data on Wednesday: Jobless claims dropped to 199,000 last week, the lowest since 1969, while the advance goods trade deficit narrowed significantly to $82.9 billion in October, led by a sharp rise in exports. … READ MORE >
Wholesale gas futures point to decline in retail prices
Based on the relationship between retail gasoline costs and wholesale gasoline prices, that cost for consumers is likely to decline in the near term. … READ MORE >
Holiday inventory problem: Some firms are better prepared than others
While the demand for goods remains strong and supplies are constrained, the impact of inventory shortages is in fact uneven across sectors. … READ MORE >
What the global coordinated release of petroleum reserves means
The politics and policy of global inflation will begin to shape markets as major global economies push back in direct and indirect ways on the surging price of oil. … READ MORE >
Introducing the RSM Canada Supply Chain Index
The RSM Canada Supply Chain Index accounts for factors affecting the delivery of intermediate goods to manufacturers and service providers, providing an overview of the economic conditions surrounding supply chains and offering a forward look for businesses. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Existing home sales inched up in October
Sales of existing homes inched up by 0.8% in October to 6.34 million, carrying some of the momentum in September, when sales jumped by a significant 7.0%, according to data released by the National Association of Realtors on Monday. … READ MORE >
Powell reappointed to lead the Fed, with Brainard elevated to vice chairwoman
The Biden administration’s widely expected reappointment of Jerome Powell as chairman of the Federal Reserve on Monday is a strong step toward providing stability and clarity for financial markets at a time when the central bank is under pressure to accelerate efforts to address inflation. … READ MORE >
RSM US Financial Conditions Index: Setting the stage for sustained growth
In its current reading, the RSM US Financial Conditions Index indicates a level of accommodation that is more than 1.4 standard deviations above normal. … READ MORE >
Canadian retail sales fall as chip shortage hurts auto sales
Retail sales in Canada decreased by 0.6% in September, to CA$56.6 billion, as a severe shortage of semiconductor chips slowed production in the auto industry. … READ MORE >