The Institute for Supply Management’s index for services inched down to 52.7 in July from 53.9 in June, indicating expansion for the seventh straight month. … READ MORE >
Economics
Fed survey of loan officers shows rising impact of higher interest rates
The Federal Reserve’s latest survey of bank lending officers confirms that the dampening effect of monetary-policy tightening on borrowing and lending continued in the second quarter. … READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: A continued decline in July
The RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index slipped back to 1.8 standard deviations below normal, the 15th consecutive month of negative values. … READ MORE >
New data points to further economic slowdown and disinflation
Job openings fell to 9.58 million in June, the lowest since April 2021, according to government data released on Tuesday. … READ MORE >
RSM US Financial Conditions Index moving toward neutral
With the money market at normal levels of risk, and with surging equities balancing out the caution displayed in the bond market, our composite financial conditions market is fast approaching neutral. … READ MORE >
Where are we going to find the workers? A look at child care and the workforce
As the American economy contends with a chronic shortage of workers, there is a solution: Women in their prime working years. But that will require accessible and affordable child care. … READ MORE >
Fed’s key wage gauge falls to lowest level since June 2021
The Employment Cost Index—the Federal Reserve’s closely watched metric on wage growth—increased by 1.0% in the second quarter, the slowest since June 2021. … READ MORE >
Business orders for equipment rise despite higher borrowing costs
New orders for core capital goods, a proxy for business investment, came in higher than forecast in June, rising by 0.2%, the Commerce Department reported on Thursday. … READ MORE >
Resilience defined as American economy continues to defy expectations
Driven by the household consumption, the American economy expanded at a 2.4% seasonally adjusted annualized rate. … READ MORE >
FOMC policy decision: The time for an end to rate hikes has arrived
With the policy rate standing above two closely watched measures of inflation, it is now time for the Federal Reserve to allow the economy an extended period to absorb the impact of past rate hikes. … READ MORE >