DATA FLASH: US JULY RETAIL SALES WEAKER THAN EXPECTED, UP 1.2%
–Retail Sales Excluding Motor Vehicles Up 1.9%; Vehicle Sales Fall 1.2%–Nonfarm Productivity Surges Despite Output Decline; Workweek Drops–Industrial Production Rose 3.0%; Manufacturing, Utilities, Mining All Up–Preliminary August Michigan Sentiment Ticked Up to 72.8 From 72.5–Business Inventories Fall 1.1% in June, Business Sales Surge 8.4% By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Retail sales rose further in […]
STATUS CHECK: MIDDLE EAST BREAKTHROUGH; VIRUS RELIEF STALEMATE
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Thursday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: An authentic though preliminary breakthrough, a third Arab country normalizing relations with Israel. With the UAE’s agreement, Israel suspends its claims of sovereignty over the West Bank claimed by Palestinians for a future […]
STATUS CHECK: A FED VOICE SURPRISINGLY TRIES TO JOG SLEEPWALKING UNITED STATES
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Wednesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: It was unexpected and significant, when of all people the president of a Federal Reserve Bank spoke up to say something is seriously wrong in how the country is preparing for the next […]
FED’S ROSENGREN: SLOWDOWN EVIDENT IN HIGH-FREQUENCY DATA LIKELY TO CONTINUE
–‘Inconsistent’ Efforts by States Likely to Prolong Downturn NEW YORK (MaceNews)- Signs of slowing evident in recent high-frequency data are likely to persist and states are not doing enough to control the virus, Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren said Wednesday. Rosengren, in remarks for delivery at an online event hosted by the South Shore Chamber […]
FED’S BARKIN: NEED FISCAL PACKAGE TO SUPPORT US CONSUMER, RECOVERY
NEW YORK (MaceNews)– Consumer spending and the economic recovery are vulnerable if Congress and the president fail to deliver another round of federal relief spending,Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin said Tuesday. Barkin, responding to questions during an online event hosted by the Center for Regional Competitiveness, said consumption, especially by blue-collar workers with a high […]
BOE DEFENDS FORECASTS AS AGENTS QUERY OPTIMISTIC ASSUMPTIONS
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – Top Bank of England officials Friday reiterated the downside risks to forecasts of a smart economic rebound under questioning from the BoE’s regional representatives about the Bank’s baseline forecasting assumptions. The central forecast released Thursday “is sensible,” albeit with “very substantial” downside risk, said Governor Andrew Bailey, addressing a […]
BOE HOLDS POLICY, KEEPS SUB-ZERO RATES UNDER REVIEW DESPITE CONSUMER RECOVERY
— Bank predicts 18% gain in Q3 GDP By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The Bank of England maintained its current policy stance at its latest rate setting meeting, but admitted that negative interest rates remain under review, despite forecasting a sharp economic rebound in the third quarter. Bank forecasters predict an 18% surge in […]
STATUS CHECK: THE IN-BETWEEN WORLD OF SLOWDOWN-REBOUND
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Wednesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: · Another day in that indeterminate area between slowdown and rebound, between the alternate universes with President Trump in his evening briefing in his world, the one in which the virus is being controlled, […]
FED’S MESTER: HIGH-FREQUENCY DATA SUGGEST ECONOMY SLOWED WITH UPTICK IN VIRUS CASES
NEW YORK (MaceNews) – High-frequency economic data suggest the economy slowed again in June in response to an uptick in the number of virus cases, Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester said Wednesday. “In late June, virus cases in many parts of the country began rising again and, in response, some states have hit the pause […]
STATUS CHECK: MUDDLED, MURKY – STILL WEEKEND VIRUS RELIEF SUCCESS EXPECTED
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Tuesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: · The general public, the markets, social service providers, food pantries and shelter providers were left reading between the lines Tuesday as they tried to decode the scant signals being sprinkled like bread crumbs […]