Savings by American households have soared to $1.1 trillion above their long-term average from 1965 to 2020. That excess savings and near-term policy decisions around fiscal aid and stimulus will play a large role in determining the shape, scale and duration of what we expect to be the coming economic expansion. … READ MORE >
coronavirus
CHART OF THE DAY: Institutional investors warm to digital assets
There is increasing evidence that institutional investors are looking to invest in digital assets. Grayscale reported that its average institutional allocation in the fourth quarter of last year was $6.8 million, more than double the average in the previous quarter. Total contributions for the period totaled $3.3 billion. … READ MORE >
U.K. financial conditions, growth and the pandemic
Despite a surge in new cases of coronavirus infections in England, the RSM UK Financial Conditions Index remains 0.1 standard deviations above neutral as investors focus on what is expected to be a strong economic rebound this year. We expect growth to expand at 4.2% this year and 7% next year. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Manufacturing upturn strongest since 2014
Driven by new orders, U.S. manufacturing output growth accelerated in January at the second-fastest rate in almost six years, according to the IHS Markit Flash U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index. … READ MORE >
The changing holiday shopping season
For many retailers, the recent holiday shopping season was unlike any other as they contended with the disruption of the pandemic and its effect on consumer behavior. The result was a more extended holiday shopping season this year by design. … READ MORE >
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of Jan. 18
This week, we look at new officials in the government’s COVID-19 response effort, how changes in technology and bioethics are driving clinical trial diversity, and how robotics continues to change surgery and medical device manufacturing. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Housing activity continues to surge
Housing starts rose by 5.8% to an annualized rate of 1.67 million in December, ending the year as one of the strongest in a decade. And housing permits, an indicator of future activity, increased as well, by 4.5% to an annualized rate of 1.7 million in December. … READ MORE >
First-time jobless claims remain elevated
Initial jobless claims declined to 900,000 for the week ending Jan. 16, down from 965,000 the week before but well above the pre-pandemic high established in 1982. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: The SPAC boom accelerates
With January about half over, announced listings for SPACs have already surpassed the combined total for the first five months of 2020. At this pace, January will match or possibly exceed the record-setting month of last September, when announced listings peaked. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Major economies to bolster spending in 2021
Pandemic-induced fiscal operations and monetary accommodation have pushed nominal and real policy rates into negative terrain, while aid to offset lost jobs and income has soared into the trillions around the G-7 economies. … READ MORE >