Sales of new homes grew 1.5% in January, much slower than the 7.2% increase in December, most likely because of elevated mortgage rates. … READ MORE >
Tuan Nguyen
Solow Residual: Total factor productivity and the U.S. economy
A recent study by the San Francisco Federal Reserve found that total factor productivity grew by a robust 4.99% on the most recent quarter after adjusting for factors such as labor, capital, utilization and worked hours. … READ MORE >
U.S. retail sales fall in January as holiday hangover sets in
In a break from recent years, ,American consumers began the year on a weak note as retail sales fell 0.8% on a monthly basis in January, according to Census Bureau data. … READ MORE >
Revising our 2024 inflation outlook: Moving back to a 2% target
We expect the Fed to begin cutting rates in June, and that the central bank will reduce its policy rate four times this year, by 25 basis points each. … READ MORE >
Fed survey shows further improvement in financial conditions
The worst of monetary tightening for the financial market may be behind us, according to the latest quarterly Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey released by the Federal Reserve … READ MORE >
Service sector grows faster than expected in January
The ISM service data is another reason to believe the Federal Reserve should not rush cutting rates this year. … READ MORE >
Productivity continues to rise in potential game changer for economy
The increase in productivity has most likely been a catalyst for both robust economic growth and disinflation over the past year. … READ MORE >
The Fed’s key wage gauge slows to lowest level since 2021
The overall index eased to 0.9% in the fourth quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, down from 1.1% in the previous quarter. … READ MORE >
Strong job openings and consumer confidence point to robust employment gains
Job openings inched up to more than 9 million, surpassing expectations and reflecting strong demand in December. … READ MORE >
Consumer sentiment rises above expectations in January
Consumer sentiment rose in January to 78.8 from 69.7, much higher than the median consensus forecast of 70.1. … READ MORE >