Initial jobless claims declined to 269,000 for the week ending Oct. 30, only 57,000 higher than the 212,000 in March 2020, before the pandemic. … READ MORE >
Covid-19
Fed slows asset purchases as it moves to end pandemic-era accommodation
The Federal Reserve announced on Wednesday that it later this month would start paring back its pandemic-era monetary accommodation even as it held its policy rate between zero and 25 basis points. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Service sector grew at record pace
The Services Purchasing Managers’ Index hit a record high in October at 66.7%, 4.8 percentage points higher than September, confirming the recent shift in consumption from goods to services. … READ MORE >
ADP private payrolls: Large companies continue to attract workers
The ADP estimate for nonfarm private employment in October continued to show an increase in net job gains, led by a sharp rise from small service-providing companies as the delta variant’s surge crested. … READ MORE >
RSM Canada Financial Conditions Index: An inflation tantrum?
Financial markets around the world are reacting to the rising risk of inflation and the prospect of policy responses by central banks, all of which have led to a modest easing in our RSM Canada Financial Conditions Index. … READ MORE >
Enhanced child tax credit was a game-changer for families, and the economy
Even as the economy slowed in the third quarter as the delta variant took hold, that slowdown would have been far worse if not for the enhanced child tax credit that was introduced on July 15. … READ MORE >
RSM UK Financial Conditions Index: Holding steady
Financial conditions in the UK remain accommodative, signaling confidence that the policies of the monetary and fiscal authorities have created the framework for a sustained economic recovery. … READ MORE >
U.S. jobs report preview: Expect a gain of 475,000 in October
When the October U.S. employment report is released on Friday, a central area of focus will be on the potential return of women in their prime working years to the labor force. … READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: Expansion hits headwinds
The RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index was more than 1.2 standard deviations above normal in October, suggesting an expansionary production sector; only 18% of the months since 1968 have had higher results. … READ MORE >
Workers chart a different course as new business formations surge
New business formations surged during the pandemic and are reshaping the labor market in a way that bodes well for economic growth. … READ MORE >