Ahead of this week’s policy decision by the Federal Open Market Committee and the publication of the November personal consumption expenditures price index, a look at the Federal Reserve’s terminal rate is in order. In the Federal Reserve’s Summary of Economic Projections released in September, that ... READ MORE >
Economics
American household net worth sets record, bringing debt-to-asset ratio to 50-year low
American household net worth reached a record in the third quarter, rising to nearly $170 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve on Thursday. The primary driver of this increase was rising equity prices, which added $2.8 trillion, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of significant ... READ MORE >
FOMC preview: A rate cut, followed by a prudent pause
We expect the Federal Reserve to reduce its policy rate by 25 basis points to a range between 4.25% and 4.5% at the Federal Open Market Committee’s meeting on Dec. 18. Given current growth and inflation dynamics, we expect that the Fed’s rate cuts will then be on pause until March at the ... READ MORE >
Bank of Canada cuts interest rate to 3.25% as focus shifts to gap with U.S.
The Bank of Canada lowered its interest rate to 3.25 per cent — an overdue move out of restrictive territory given that inflation has largely been tamed. Expect more rate cuts in early 2025 to get the economy onto an expansionary trajectory. The policy rate should come down to 2.75 per cent within the ... READ MORE >
Inflation ticks up amid seasonal factors and strong growth
The disinflation trend continued to stall in November, according to the most recent consumer price index data released on Wednesday. November marked the first month since April when overall CPI inflation grew by 0.3% monthly, or 3.7% annualized, well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target and a cause ... READ MORE >
Morning market minute: Firms to pull forward durable goods orders to avoid tariffs
Inside the University of Michigan’s survey on consumer sentiment for November, buying conditions for durable goods increased by more than 20%. Firms appear to be acting rationally to avoid rising import taxes in the new year. These purchases will bolster gross domestic product in the fourth quarter, ... READ MORE >
Canada’s job market cools as unemployment rises to 6.8%
Canada added 51,000 jobs in November, double the expected number, but the overall picture does not look rosy. The unemployment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points to 6.8 per cent — the highest since January 2017 — as more people looked for work. A slow job market finally hit wages, as wage growth ... READ MORE >
Hiring rebounded in November following weather-distorted October report
The American labor market bounced back in November with the creation of 227,000 jobs, a rebound from the hurricane-related distortions of October and further evidence that the labor market remains remarkably stable. Once one corrects for the noise in the data, the pace of hiring looks to be near ... READ MORE >
Morning market minute: Will wage growth moderate?
A look at U.S. wage growth ahead of the November U.S. jobs report to be released today should translate to a gain of 3.9% on a year-ago basis. We expect a net change in total employment of 220,000 positions, a 4.1% unemployment rate and a 0.3% increase in average hourly earnings. Solid job growth in ... READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims climb amid holiday volatility
First-time claims for unemployment benefits increased by 9,000 to 224,000 last week, in line with the 13-week moving average of 226,000 and a sign of a labor market where workers have a remarkable level of job security. With arrival of the holiday season, though, top-line claims will show volatility in ... READ MORE >