Job growth continues, but it’s a tough market for newbies
Employers do better keeping workers on payrolls than absorbing new entrants
A solid, if underwhelming, January jobs report is likely to reinforce the Federal Reserve’s “wait-and-see” strategy on interest rate cuts through its next few meetings. However, a ...
Consumers powered the economy last year. How long can they keep it up?
Future purchases likely depend on income growth
American consumers have bolstered the economy and left it on solid footing heading into 2025, a few key data releases recently confirmed.
Consumers turn testy as inflation expectations heat up
Survey finds confidence waning
Despite maintaining healthy spending habits last year, consumers are decidedly gloomy at the start of the new year, according to the latest survey by The Conference Board.
Retailers pull in solid sales despite pockets of softness
Consumer spending surges in December
After the recent blockbuster release of job growth in December, it is no surprise to see American consumers ending 2024 with a solid holiday shopping season.
A slowing labor market ends the year with a bang
Employers go on biggest hiring binge since March
The American job market closed out 2024 on an up note, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly report for December. That staved off fears of a teetering labor market, ...
Factory activity sparks up. Factory jobs? Not so much.
Surge in new orders stirs optimism
Momentum seems to be building in the American manufacturing sector after more than two years of weakness.
Changing tides lift the forecast for 2025
Outlook improves substantially during the past year
The economic outlook has substantially changed over the past year. In its most recent release, the forecasting firm Oxford Economics suggests growth of 2.5% in the fourth quarter, ...
Weakness appears in the labor market
Unemployment ticks up to 4.2%
November's headline jobs numbers marked the 47th consecutive month of positive job growth and showed a substantial recovery from the strike- and storm-impacted October report.
Consumers power forward into the holiday season
Incomes grow and a key measure of inflation accelerates
New data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis before the Thanksgiving holiday showed that higher-than-expected income growth and lower energy prices bolstered consumer spend...
The struggle to contain inflation continues
But shoppers are not deterred
Overall inflation as measured by the consumer price index, or CPI, remains sticky, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report.
Elections have consequences
Stock markets jump, but interest rates offer little relief
Stock market indices reacted enthusiastically to President-elect Donald Trump’s electoral victory over Vice President Kamala Harris last week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average...
Slowing jobs market sends mixed signals
Hurricanes, labor strife muddy the picture
No one thought interpreting the October jobs report would be simple after two hurricanes struck the southeast and as Boeing machinists continued their strike. But then, no one expe...
The housing market is unlikely to make the Fed’s job easier any time soon
Housing costs look to remain high in battle to tame inflation
With positive data on the health of the job market recently raising hopes for a soft landing, the Federal Reserve’s fight to tamp down on the last leg of inflation has come into fo...
Fretting over the labor market appears overdone
But surveys show caution ahead
After earlier reports showed the labor market continuing to slow amid restrictive financial conditions, the Federal Reserve decided it might be time to stop focusing on its fight a...
Incomes stay strong, and the technical recession that wasn't
Recent data show faster growth, healthier consumers than previously thought
The Commerce Department released revisions to past data last week that showed the economy grew more quickly in all but four quarters since the beginning of 2019. The revisions wipe...
The Fed makes a move. A soft landing comes into view.
Economy stays strong as inflation cools and unemployment remains low
The Federal Reserve's policymaking committee ended its eight-meeting pause last week and finally cut its target short-term interest rate, choosing a 50-basis-point cut.
High-income households are doing just fine, helped by higher asset prices. Lower-income consumers — not so much.
Sentiment diverges among American income groups
The health of the consumer is top of mind as the labor market weakens and recession fears emerge.
Weakening labor market raises the risk of a not-so-soft landing
New data shows fewer jobs added than initially estimated
August’s much-watched jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics last week left the state of the economy up for interpretation.
Is That a Light We See at the End of the Tunnel?
Housing Market Prospects Pick Up
After a dismal spring and early-summer selling season, housing sales increased in July for the first time in five months.
Glum Consumers Turn to Retail Therapy
Sales Make Biggest Jump Since January Last Year
The University of Michigan’s index of consumer sentiment brightened in early August, rising from an eight-month low of 66.4 to 67.8. But the news might not be as positive as the he...