DATA PREVIEW: IS IT TOO EARLY TO CARE ABOUT 2023?

By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The upcoming week’s key events are concentrated into the middle of the week, with Wednesday’s FOMC meeting the highlight. While it is doubtful that the meeting will produce anything earth-shattering, it should confirm the shift in attention toward improving the employment situation and supporting the economic recovery rather than […]

DATA FLASH: US AUGUST PAYROLLS UP 1.371 MLN; UNEMP RATE 8.4%

-Retail, Government Sectors Lead Gain; Hourly Earnings Up 0.4% By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The August employment report showed continued payrolls improvement, though the size of those gains continues to slow and likely reflects the return of laid-off workers rather than new job creation. Likewise, the unemployment rate fell sharply in the month to […]

STATUS CHECK: TRUMP WANTS TO DISOWN NYC, PORTLAND, D.C.

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) –-The following is Wednesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: The day was full of campaign moves, some disguised as something else. For instance, President Trump’s memo to government agencies late in the day directed preparations be made to disown certain cities that he […]

STATUS CHECK: CREDIBILITY, DENIALS, INSINUATIONS AND CHARGES

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Tuesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: At the end of last week it was noted here that events had chipped away at the credibility of the government and the White House in particular regarding the coronavirus. Now it has […]

DATA FLASH: US MANUFACTURING CONDITIONS IMPROVE FURTHER IN AUGUST

–ISM Manufacturing Index Rises To 56.0 In August, High Since Nov 2018–July Construction Spending Softer Than Expected; Residential Up By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The August ISM index showed U.S . manufacturing sector activity expanded further due to extraordinarily strong demand, but the sector is still laying off workers and some sectors have not […]

STATUS CHECK: FOOD LINES AND GOVT INERTIA; VIRUS, STREET UNREST, JOBLESSNESS

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Monday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: Life in these United States, another chapter. President Trump holds a news conference and defends his MAGA truck rally firing paint balls at Black Lives Matter protestors –  “Paint is not bullets.” – […]

DATA FLASH: US JULY PERSONAL INCOME TICKS UP, PCE GROWTH SLOWS

-US July Personal Income +0.4% After -1.0% in June, Savings Rate 17.8%-Nominal PCE +1.9%, Real PCE +1.6%; Core Prices Rise 0.3%-Real PCE Tracking 36.6% SAAR Above Second Quarter Average-Chicago PMI Trims to 51.2 in August from 51.9 in July-August Michigan Sentiment Revised Up to 74.1, Ahead of 72.5 in July By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) […]

DATA FLASH: US AUGUST CONFIDENCE FALLS FURTHER AS CONCERNS GROW

–Confidence in Both Current Conditions, Expectations Drop Sharply–July New Home Sales Jump by 13.9% To 901,000 SAAR, up 36.3% Yr/Yr  –Manufacturing Regional Data Mixed, But Further Services Improvement By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) -The Conference Board’s U.S. consumer confidence index fell to a reading of 84.8 in August from a downward revised 91.7 reading in […]

DATA PREVIEW: STIMULUS GRIDLOCK, COVID CUTS INTO CONFIDENCE

By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The inability to pass new stimulus measures in the face of rising COVID-19 cases likely had a dampening effect on consumer confidence in August, even as interest rates have hit rock-bottom, gasoline prices are low and with the U.S. stock markets to a large extent having eclipsed their pre-COVID […]

DATA FLASH: EXISTING HOME SALES NOW IN ‘BOOMING PHASE’

-Existing Home Sales Surge by 24.7% to a 5.86 Mln Rate, High Since 2006-Supply Continues To Contract, Lifting Prices To Record High-Markit Flash Data Rise, Contradicting Regional Data to Date By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – U.S. existing home sales surged to a 14-year high in July on record low mortgage rates and an increased […]