Nearly two years after the pandemic shut down the global economy, policymakers are facing a new challenge as global supply chain bottlenecks push up inflation and hamper economic growth. How countries confront these disruptions will have a big impact on economic growth in the coming year. We expect ... READ MORE >
pandemic
Pending home sales in October rebounded to highest in 2021
Pending home sales rebounded by 7.5% in October following a small decline of 2.4% in September, continuing their rise from a recent low in April, according to new data on Monday from the National Association of Realtors. The sharp increase in contract signings month-over-month pointed to housing demand ... READ MORE >
RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index: November was a good month
The RSM US Manufacturing Outlook Index in November reached its highest level since the spring, indicating a sustained economic recovery should the health crisis not get in the way. Despite snarled global supply chains that have made obtaining goods challenging, the domestic manufacturing sector ... READ MORE >
Chart of the day: A look at the strategic petroleum reserve
The price of crude oil was already dropping by the time the Biden administration announced the coordinated effort among allies to release crude oil from their reserves. With roughly 1.05 billion barrels in reserve, some of which are used to meet basic demand each year during hurricanes or other periods ... READ MORE >
Surprises in jobless claims and goods trade make up for decline in durable goods orders
Encouraging economic news came from the government's early release of data on Wednesday: Jobless claims dropped to 199,000 last week, the lowest since 1969, while the advance goods trade deficit narrowed significantly to $82.9 billion in October, led by a sharp rise in exports. The jobs data was a ... READ MORE >
Holiday inventory problem: Some firms are better prepared than others
As supply chain bottlenecks continue to plague the economy, hampering output and raising prices, many analysts have warned that there will not be enough goods in stock for the holiday shopping season. Our new RSM US Supply Chain Index also reached a two-decade low in October, pointing to a problem ... READ MORE >
Introducing the RSM Canada Supply Chain Index
The reports of flooding out of British Columbia recently were unsettling: Rising water had cut off highways and rail lines, stranding consumers and businesses, and led officials to declare a state of emergency. The severe flooding only compounded the disruptions to the delivery of goods and ... READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Existing home sales inched up in October
Sales of existing homes inched up by 0.8% in October to 6.34 million, carrying some of the momentum in September, when sales jumped by a significant 7.0%, according to data released by the National Association of Realtors on Monday. Despite supply constraints and elevated prices, the small increase was ... READ MORE >
Powell reappointed to lead the Fed, with Brainard elevated to vice chairwoman
The Biden administration’s widely expected reappointment of Jerome Powell as chairman of the Federal Reserve on Monday is a strong step toward providing stability and clarity for financial markets at a time when the central bank is under pressure to accelerate efforts to address inflation. In our ... READ MORE >
RSM US Financial Conditions Index: Setting the stage for sustained growth
Manufacturers are expecting increased activity in the coming months, surveys by the regional Federal Reserve banks suggest. But perhaps more important in terms of productivity and global competitiveness, those manufacturers say they plan to increase capital expenditures and spending on ... READ MORE >