Driven by the latest round of stimulus checks approved in late December, retail sales surged 5.3% in January from a monthly decline of 0.7% in December, the Commerce Department reported on Wednesday. … READ MORE >
Election 2020
5 trends from defense technology companies’ Q3 earnings calls
Defense technology company executives remain agile, anticipating future government spending trends, monitoring key supply chain risks, and investing in rapidly advancing technologies. Support for defense funding positions the sector for a strong 2021. … READ MORE >
5 trends from government services companies’ Q3 earnings calls
Trends among government services companies show a sector that has weathered the pandemic relatively well, positioning it for a strong 2021. … READ MORE >
Election economics: Biden victory projected as Senate hangs in the balance
Joe Biden’s projected victory implies a possible era of significant changes to address the pandemic, expand domestic health care, modernize the nation’s infrastructure and adopt expansionary fiscal policy—all of which will define the economic policy landscape over the next two years. However, the party that controls the Senate will determine the scope of that change, and that outcome is pending the two runoffs for the seats in Georgia. … READ MORE >
An inconclusive outcome: Election produces no winner, expected court challenge
The presidential election produced no clear outcome on Tuesday night, and instead brought uncertainty, financial market volatility and political risk across the business world. … READ MORE >
Small and medium size firms in crisis: A message from the real economy
The condition of small and medium-size firms implies a potential inflection point in the nascent economic rebound following the near shutdown of the economy last spring. Without further reform and support of the signature Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)—which provided a vital lifeline to those firms during the worst of the pandemic—there will be an increase in bankruptcies, followed by another round of job losses, this time tilted toward the permanent elimination of jobs that support the bulk of the American middle and working classes. … READ MORE >
RSM’s exclusive MMBI survey reveals how the Main Street Lending Program can be improved
RSM’s survey for its proprietary Middle Market Business Index for July suggested that the Main Street Lending Program could gain broader participation with targeted changes and greater clarity about the program. … READ MORE >
Without adjustments, Main Street Lending Program is unlikely to be mainstream
Unlike the strong demand for the Paycheck Protection Program, which saw $350 billion in aid snatched up in the 13 days following its debut, interest in the Main Street Lending Program has been more muted; less than $100 million in aid was requested in the program’s first month, according to data from the Federal Reserve. … READ MORE >