It is becoming quite clear that absent an accessible and widely distributed vaccine, there will be no complete economic recovery. What originally was thought to be a 15 week problem has quickly evolved into something that looks more like a 15-month challenge. The premature reopening of the U.S. economy ... READ MORE >
coronavirus
Grocers get margin relief, but it may only be temporary
Food retailers experienced better profit margins in June as they passed along price increases to customers while their costs from suppliers dropped. This relief marked a welcome change from recent years, when their ability to pass along rising food costs met stiff resistance from consumers. The ... READ MORE >
A national pandemic shifts to the South and Southwest
It has become increasingly clear that there will not be a meaningful domestic or global economic recovery until an effective coronavirus vaccine regimen is in place. The intensified spread of the coronavirus in states outside of the U.S. major metropolitan areas that were hardest hit early on poses ... READ MORE >
Housing remains a leader in the economic recovery
Housing continues to be a bright spot in the economy, with housing starts jumping 17.3% in June and housing permits rising 2.1% -- the second straight month of gains following the economic shutdowns of March and April. While the June housing data, released by the Commerce Department on Friday, may ... READ MORE >
Global M&A remains soft, but that could change as elections approach
Global mergers and acquisitions have had a slower start to 2020 compared to other years as companies continue to work through business challenges resulting from the coronavirus. Through June, the total value of announced deals was $327 billion, according to PitchBook. At that pace, the year would ... READ MORE >
Jobless claims, state by state: 19 show significant increases
The spread of the coronavirus across the South and Southwest and into the Plains became apparent in states with statistically significant increases in initial jobless claims during the week ending July 11. It is difficult to assess trends in weekly jobless claims because of the scattershot nature ... READ MORE >
Retail sales rose 7.5% in June as economies reopened
June retail sales were strong for a second straight month, fueled by the reopening of economies across the country and the continuation of pent-up demand from lockdowns earlier in the year. Overall retail sales rose by 7.5% in June, which followed May's record 18.2% gain, the Commerce Department ... READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims: 17 straight weeks above 1 million
Initial jobless claims remain stubbornly elevated, which implies persistent weakness in the domestic labor market as the economy absorbs further intensification of the coronavirus pandemic. This may cause further volatility in these numbers in the coming weeks. First-time jobless claims for the ... READ MORE >
June rebound in industrial production may be thwarted by virus resurgence
As more businesses in the United States reopened, U.S. industrial production and manufacturing output grew by 5.4% and 7.2% respectively in June, according to data released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve. The increase marks the second month in a row of growth for these indicators after a massive decline ... READ MORE >
Amid resurgence of coronavirus, health care providers feel mounting pressure
Nearly six months have passed since Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared the coronavirus a public health emergency. Yet we still face the some of the most difficult economic headwinds in generations. Expanded federal unemployment benefits will expire in 18 days, and soon after ... READ MORE >