DATA FLASH: US INITIAL CLAIMS, PHIL FED INDEX DISAPPOINTS

–-Initial Claims +135,000 to 1.106 Mln In August 15 Week–-Philadelphia Fed Index Falls to 17.2 in August from 24.1 in July–-Leading Indicators Index Rises 1.4%/July, But Suggests Recovery Slowing By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The future of the enhanced jobless claims program remains uncertain as talks between the Administration and Congress have gone silent, but […]

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: TRUMP – ‘WE’RE FINALLY HAVING IT OUT’

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Friday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: ·        A long week about over and in an evening news conference the president of the United States says, “We’re having it out. We’re finally having it out.” He was talking about the […]

DATA FLASH: US JULY PAYROLLS RISE BY 1.76 MLN, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 10.2%

-COVID-Hit Sectors Lead Gain; Hourly Earnings Up 0.2%, Up 4.8% Year/Year By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The July employment report reflected continued improvement in the economy, but the rate at which the U.S. is digging out the hole it fell into in March and April clearly slowed. That recovery is likely to be hindered […]

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 […]

DATA FLASH: US MANUFACTURING CLIMBED FURTHER IN JULY

–June Construction Spending Falls on Home Building By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The July ISM index showed U.S. manufacturing sector activity progressed further, as suggested by the Markit estimate and most of the regional data. Survey respondents in the ISM report noted that while some issues remain, there was considerable improvement in July after […]

DATA PREVIEW: COVID-19 RESURGENCE TO BE WEIGHED IN JULY DATA

By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The coming week’s July data will be scrutinized for any early effects of the COVID-19 resurgence, with the highlight of the week being Friday’s monthly employment report. The combined 7.5 million payrolls gain in May and June only began to scratch the surface of offsetting the 22.2 million total […]

DATA FLASH: US JUNE PERSONAL INCOME DROPS AS STIMULUS WINDS DOWN

–US June Personal Income -1.1% After -4.4% in May–Savings Rate 19.0%, Nominal PCE +5.6%, Real PCE +5.2%, Core Prices +0.2%–Chicago PMI Jumped to 51.9 from 36.6 in June, Highest Since May 2019–July Michigan Sentiment Index Revised Down to 72.5, Well Below 78.1 in June By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Personal income fell further in […]

DATA PREVIEW: US HOME SALES CENTER STAGE IN QUIET DATA WEEK

By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – In the lighter data week ahead, the focus will be on new and existing homes sales for June, reflecting the extremely low level of mortgage rates offset by continued uncertainty due to the resurgence of COVID cases and the elevated unemployment rate. In May, existing home sales plunged by […]