The industrial goods trade deficit increased to $36.7 billion in May from $34.39 billion in April, far exceeding pre-pandemic levels of trade deficits, according to Commerce Department data released on Thursday. … READ MORE >
Covid-19
Data deluge: Jobless claims ease to 411,000 as durable goods orders rise 1.1%
First-time jobless claims eased to 411,000 for the week ending June 19, a slight decline from the revised figure of 418,000 for the previous week, according to government data released on Thursday. … READ MORE >
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of June 14
From tools to support decentralized clinical trials to new efforts to reduce systemic racism in medical research, each week we highlight five things you need to know about in the life sciences industry. … READ MORE >
FOMC comment: Fed creates context to end pandemic policy efforts
At the monthly meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, the central bank kept its policy rate unchanged in a range between zero and 25 basis points. But it is clear we have entered the beginning of the end to the Fed’s emergency programs. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Housing market stays steady despite headwinds
Housing starts rose 3.6% to 1.57 million in May while permits dipped 3% to 1.68 million, according to Commerce Department data released on Wednesday. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Retail sales cool as stimulus boost wears off
After two months of growth in retail sales fueled in part by stimulus payments, retail sales cooled off in May, falling 1.3% and missing analyst estimates of a 0.8% gain. … READ MORE >
FOMC preview: Growth and inflation and tapering, oh my!
The Federal Open Market Committee will leave its policy rate unchanged at its meeting this week, but that decision will mask an underlying shift in its economic projections and policies. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: U.S. household net worth surges, but the gains are uneven
The net worth of U.S. households in the first quarter increased by nearly $5 trillion, or 3.8%, from the previous quarter to a record of $136.9 trillion. On an annual basis, that gain was $25.5 trillion, or 22.9%. But not all households benefited equally. … READ MORE >
What’s behind the recent decline in 10-year Treasury yields
The yield on 10-year Treasury bonds has dropped nearly 25 basis points to below 1.5%, touching 1.42% overnight on June 11 from its recent peak of 1.74% on March 31. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Initial jobless claims continue downward trend
Initial jobless claims continued to decelerate for the sixth straight week as the labor market slowly normalizes, according to government data released Thursday. … READ MORE >