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 >
interest rates
Canada’s economy was unchanged in July
Friday’s data is in line with the Bank of Canada’s goal of cooling the economy and is a signal to the central bank that no further rate hikes are needed. … READ MORE >
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 >
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 >