Consumer sentiment rose in January to 78.8 from 69.7, much higher than the median consensus forecast of 70.1. … READ MORE >
interest rates
Initial jobless claims and housing starts post upside surprises
Filings for jobless benefits fell last week to the lowest level in 16 months, a testament for how resilient the labor market continues to be. … READ MORE >
Canada’s inflation accelerated to 3.4% in December
December’s CPI increase is likely a blip in the path toward price stability as the overall rate heads to a range to below 3% soon. … READ MORE >
December CPI: Sticky service and housing prices illustrate the difficult last mile in inflation fight
Despite a three-month annualized top-line inflation pace of 1.8% and a six-month rate of 3.3%, prices in the service sector, which comprises 62% of the overall index, increased by 5% on a year-ago basis. … READ MORE >
Rate normalization and the return of risk
Conditions are ripe for the yield curve to continue to normalize as the long end moves to a range between 4% and 4.25%. … READ MORE >
Canada failed to add jobs in December
Canada lost 23,500 full-time jobs in December, replaced by a gain of 23,600 part-time positions. … READ MORE >
December employment report caps an extraordinary year of 2.7 million jobs added
The U.S. economy added 216,000 jobs in December, closing out an extraordinary year that saw an increase of 2.7 million in total employment and a record 167 million Americans employed. … READ MORE >
U.S. income and spending see strong gains as year nears an end
November had a 0.4% increase in nominal income and spending, while inflation-adjusted spending advanced at a 0.3% pace, according to Commerce Department data released on Friday. … READ MORE >
Inflation in Canada stayed steady at 3.1%
Food and housing remain primary drivers of inflation. On a year-over-year basis, mortgage interest costs spiked by a whopping 29.7%—the largest contributor to inflation. … READ MORE >
U.S. retail sales grew by more than expected in November
Sales increased by 0.3% on the month or by 5.9% on a three-month moving average annualized pace. … READ MORE >