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 >
interest rates
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 >
Housing starts fall to three-year low amid 7% mortgage rate
Housing starts in the United States fell by a sharp 11.3% in August, the second double-digit drop in three months. … READ MORE >
Canada inflation surges 4%, exceeding forecasts
Canada’s Consumer Price Index increased by 4% on an annual basis in August, far exceeding the central bank’s 2% target. … 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 >
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 >
Why the Fed should lift its 2% inflation target
We expect the Fed to hold its policy rate steady at 5.25% to 5.5% at its meeting next week and would advise the Fed to begin shaping expectations about a likely cyclical peak at that range. … READ MORE >