The Federal Reserve is looking to cut its policy rate three times this year, according to information inferred from the Summary of Economic Projections and policy statement released on Wednesday. The cuts would reduce the policy rate by 75 basis points, from the current range between 5.25% and 5.5% ... READ MORE >
Economics
February’s inflation in Canada makes case for rate cuts
Canada's consumer price index fell to 2.8% February, marking the second consecutive month of decline and bolstering the case for the Bank of Canada to cut rates. The decline wasn't limited to just the headline number. Core measures of inflation eased as well: Trimmed CPI, which excludes extreme price ... READ MORE >
Housing starts and permits beat forecasts as completions reach 17-year high
Housing starts and permits rebounded sharply in February after unfavorable weather slowed projects across the country in January. Housing starts rose by 10.7% in February, while permits increased by 1.9%, according to data released by the Commerce Department on Tuesday. The increases exceeded ... READ MORE >
Industrial production rises to highest level in three months
Industrial production rebounded in February after a two-month drop likely because of unfavorable winter weather. Overall volume rose by 0.1% on the back of robust manufacturing production, which grew by 0.8% on the month, the Federal Reserve reported on Friday. The total industrial production figure ... READ MORE >
U.S. retail sales in February grew at the fastest rate since September
Retail sales rebounded in February, showing that the sharp drop in January was likely more noise than trend, according to data from the Commerce Department on Thursday. Once the seasonal factors in January’s data faded away, overall spending at retail stores, restaurants and online remained solid ... READ MORE >
FOMC preview: A status quo meeting
We anticipate that the Federal Open Market Committee meeting on March 19 and 20 will maintain the status quo in its policies. Our forecast implies no change in the federal funds rate, which will remain in a range between 5.25% and 5.5%. The FOMC’s median projection for interest rates in its dot ... READ MORE >
February consumer price index: Sticky yet under control
The consumer price index increased at a robust rate in February for the second month in a row though this increase was not a surprise given the recent rise in gasoline prices, and, more importantly, the noise in housing inflation data. The top-line and core CPI numbers both grew at 0.4% on the ... READ MORE >
Should the U.S. ban imports of Chinese electric vehicles?
The Biden administration recently ordered an investigation into the national security threat posed by Chinese connected-vehicle technology. The outcome, if taken to an extreme, could result in a ban on the import of Chinese vehicles into the United States. But there is much more driving the ... READ MORE >
Canada’s jobs report offers mixed messages on rates
February’s jobs report for Canada did little to sway the Bank of Canada’s likelihood to begin cutting rates in June. The data released on Friday continues to send mixed messages to those who make monetary policy, a recurring theme for the past six months as the economy hangs on but does not ... READ MORE >
U.S. employment report: Robust hiring continued in February
Sustained demand for labor in the American economy was on vivid display on Friday as the Labor Department reported that 275,000 jobs were created in February. The Bureau of Labor Statistics revised down its initial estimate of the January jobs report from 353,000 jobs created to 229,000 and the ... READ MORE >