The encouraging May CPI data released by the Labor Department on Thursday is likely to be the first in a string of constructive inflation reports that will define policy normalization at the Fed. … READ MORE >
Economics
U.S. financial conditions update: A shift in structure and a new center of gravity
The RSM US Financial Conditions Index turned positive in January and has centered at 0,25 standard deviations above zero since March, indicating the normal level of risk priced into financial securities. … READ MORE >
Canada’s unemployment rate rises to 6.2 per cent, bolstering case for further rate cuts
Canada’s jobs report for May showed that the labour market continued to soften as the economy added 27,000 jobs and the unemployment rate inched up to 6.2%. … READ MORE >
U.S. jobs report: Strong demand for labor continues its remarkable run in May
Labor demand continues to increase at a remarkably strong pace, which removes the prospect of a July rate hike and creates the sense that the Federal Reserve may fall further behind other central banks as they pivot to lower rates. … READ MORE >
FOMC preview: Dot plot to imply two rate cuts this year
We expect the Federal Open Market Committee to keep its policy rate unchanged between a rate of 5.25% and 5.5% at its meeting next week. … READ MORE >
The case for rate cuts: Read our chief economist’s op-ed in Barron’s
The recent rate cuts by the Bank of Canada and the European Central Bank are just the beginning of a global shift to growth-oriented monetary policies, RSM’s chief economist Joe Brusuelas wrote in Barron’s in April. … READ MORE >
Global central bank policy pivot continues as ECB cuts rate
The rate cuts in Europe and Canada are likely to be followed by the Bank of England in August and the Fed this fall. … READ MORE >
In long-awaited shift, Bank of Canada cuts its policy rate to 4.75%,
After years of raising interest rates and then keeping them elevated, the Bank of Canada dropped the policy rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday, signaling a new period of recovery and growth. … READ MORE >
Job openings fall to the lowest level since February 2021
The labor market continued to cool at an encouraging pace as elevated interest rates weighed further on overall demand. Job openings fell to 8.06 million in April from a downwardly revised 8.36 million in the previous month, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday. … READ MORE >
Bank of Canada preview: A rate cut is desperately needed
The Bank of Canada needs to announce rate cuts during its June 5 meeting to spur economic growth. Any further delay and the bank would risk making a policy error and undermining Canada’s growth outlook. … READ MORE >