The Federal Open Market Committee’s decision on the federal funds rate Wednesday will for the most part be a non-market-moving event, with the Federal Reserve looking to convey a consistent outlook on the direction of policy and rates. … READ MORE >
coronavirus
CHART OF THE DAY: Leading economic index points to robust expansion of industrial production
There are more signs of a recovery in the works. Both industrial production and the Conference Board’s leading economic indicator reported positive year-over-year growth rates in March. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: New home sales jump 20.7% in March
New home sales in the United States bounced back with a 20.7% increase in March after a surprising 18.2% decline in February, according to Commerce Department data released Friday. … READ MORE >
Inflation expectations: Have they reached a peak?
The recent decline in yield most likely represents a rethinking by market participants and investors on the risk of rising inflation to the economic outlook. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Existing home sales slump but market remains hot
Sales of existing homes decreased 3.7% in March to an annual rate of 6.01 million for the second straight monthly decline, according to data from the National Association of Realtors released Thursday. … READ MORE >
Jobless claims: Labor market is moving in the right direction
First-time jobless claims declined to 547,000 for the week ending April 17 from 586,000 the week before and are well below the 4.2 million posted one year ago, according to government data released Thursday. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: The strengthening dollar as the recovery takes hold
We expect the real effective exchange rate of the greenback to advance in value against a trade-weighted basket of currencies as growth and interest rate differentials drive capital flows into the U.S. this year. … READ MORE >
Bank of Canada policy decision: Tapering bond purchases by $3 billion a week
An improved economic outlook and growing confidence among central bankers have created the conditions in which the Bank of Canada is now comfortable paring back the pace of bond purchases by $3 billion per week. … READ MORE >
House of the rising costs: Construction materials surge amid higher demand, supply constraints
Construction material costs have been rising since last June, and the increase is having a big effect on the residential construction industry. Everything from lumber to asphalt to cement to insulation has soared in price as the home building industry has heated up. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: A resurgent pandemic in Canada
More than 8,760 new cases are being reported each day as this latest surge of infections closes in on the levels of the post-holiday second wave. … READ MORE >