Job openings defied expectations in August, rising to 9.6 million, mostly from a sharp increase of 409,000 in professional and business services. … READ MORE >
Federal Reserve
American consumers remain resilient as shutdown looms
Despite a rise in overall inflation because of higher oil prices, core inflation and spending volume remained soft in August. … READ MORE >
Jobless claims hold steady as pending home sales plunge
Initial jobless claims inched up by only 2,000 last week to 204,000, remaining below the pre-pandemic average, while pending home sales plunged by 7.1% in August. … READ MORE >
Housing prices set a record as consumer confidence dips
Housing prices set a record in July, according to the S&P CoreLogic Index, rising by 0.87% on a seasonally adjusted basis. August’s new home sales, however, dropped by a sharp 8.7%. … READ MORE >
FOMC policy decision: No rate hike as Fed implies soft landing
The Fed maintained its policy rate in a range between 5.25% and 5.5% while revisions to its Summary of Economic Projections strongly imply that the central bank no longer expects a recession. … READ MORE >
Low core inflation should keep the Fed from hiking rates
While we expect the Federal Reserve to hold rates unchanged on Wednesday, what its updated Summary of Economic Projections will look like remains less clear. … READ MORE >
R-star: The role of the natural rate of interest in monetary policy and economic growth
Known by economists as r-star, it has risen to a range between 1.75% and 2% in our estimation, a marked increase from the 0.5% that had prevailed over the previous 15 years. … READ MORE >
Industrial production nears a record high as consumer sentiment falls
Industrial volume in August rose by 0.4% to the highest level in 11 months, nearing the record registered last September, as consumer sentiment In September fell to the lowest level in three months. … READ MORE >
August retail sales and producer inflation show a hot summer finish
Retail sales and producer inflation came in significantly higher than expected, while initial jobless claims were lower than the market consensus. … READ MORE >
Energy pushes inflation higher but core prices remain grounded
Consumer inflation in August posted the biggest monthly increase in more than a year, driven mostly by the surge in oil and energy prices. … READ MORE >