The headline manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index increased by 1.2 percentage points in September, to 61.1%, continuing to indicate overall expansion of the manufacturing sector. … READ MORE >
Delta variant
Spending posted strong gains in August, a boost from the enhanced child tax credit
Personal spending rose by 0.8% in August, following a downwardly revised 0.1% in July and showing the strong impact of the extra incomes from the enhanced child tax credit that began in July. … READ MORE >
Canada’s GDP showed modest contraction in July
Canada’s gross domestic product in July contracted by 0.1%, continuing the trend from the second quarter. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims rose for third straight week as millions lost federal pandemic benefits
First-time jobless claims rose to 362,000 for the week ending Sept. 25 as enhanced federal unemployment benefits ended, according to government data released Thursday. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Pending home sales rose a surprising 8.1% in August
Pending sales of homes bounced back strongly in August with an 8.1% increase after two consecutive months of declines, according to data released Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors. … READ MORE >
Natural gas shortage and soaring prices threaten economic growth
Soaring gas, oil and coal prices point to an energy shortage across the globe, from the United States to Europe and China. The crunch has the potential to turn into a crisis if not managed, and has already caused industrial and residential power outages, threatened economic growth and jeopardized climate goals. … READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: An expansion moderated by supply chain and labor constraints
Manufacturing conditions in September remain far above recession levels, suggesting a positive outlook for the economic expansion. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Goods trade deficit widened in August as delta variant weighed on exports
A rise in imports led to a higher U.S. trade deficit in goods in August, pointing to the impact of the delta variant on exports, while automobiles took center stage in dragging down both exports and imports. … READ MORE >
Consumer confidence declined again in September as delta variant dampened optimism
The headline Consumer Confidence Index fell to 109.3 in September—a seven-month low—from 115.2 in July in another sign that the delta variant is dampening consumer optimism and spending. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Durable goods orders surged by a surprising 1.8% in August
Helped by strong aircraft orders, durable goods orders in August rose by 1.8% on the month, easily beating analyst estimates of 0.7%, according to Commerce Department data released Monday. … READ MORE >