US ISM Manufacturing Remains in Contraction in April as Trump Tariffs Choke Demand, Prompting Firms to Slash Output, Shed Payrolls amid High Costs

–ISM Manufacturing Index at 48.7 vs. 49.0 in March, Above Consensus (47.9)–ISM’s Fiore: Tariff Concerns Account for 82% of April Survey Comments vs. 67% in March, Overshadowing Any Kind of Demand Comment–Fiore: Don’t Think US in Recession but PMI Indicates Moving in That Direction–Fiore: Not a Tariff Fan; Firms Won’t Invest, US Consumers Will Pay […]

FED’S BEIGE BOOK: Analysts See ‘Pre-Downturn’ Assessment of Tepid Economy Coast to Coast

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve’s latest “Beige Book” survey Wednesday of economic conditions in all 12 Fed Districts reflected widespread uncertainty because of shifting trade policy, softening consumer spending and worsening outlooks that hinted at an economy on the precipice of a downturn. The following is the national summary and District-by-District snapshots from the […]

ISM: US Services Sector Slips in March on Surging Costs amid Trump Trade War, Controversial Massive Federal Spending Cuts, but Clings to Growth

–ISM Services Index at 9-Month Low of 50.8 Vs. 53.5 in February, Below Consensus (53.0)–Employment Subindex Plunge by 7.7 Points Sharpest Since Early Pandemic Phase of April 2020–ISM’s Miller: More Industries Are Concerned About Impact of Tariffs–Miller: Canadian Boycott of US Goods, Services Having Immediate Impact–Miller: Services Sector Shows Some Strength from Overall Viewpoint By […]

US ISM Manufacturing Slips Back into Contraction in March as Firms Sit on Sidelines, Trim Payrolls Ahead of More Trump Tariffs Expected This Week

–ISM Manufacturing Index at 49.0 Vs. 50.3 in February, Below Consensus (49.6)–ISM’s Fiore: Activity ‘Overshadowed’ by US Import Tariffs; So Many Unknowns, More Confusion–Fiore: Still Think Lower New Orders, Higher Inventories, Slower Supply Deliveries Will Clear Up–Fiore: Tariffs Could Prompt Workers Hit by Higher Costs of Living to Demand Wage Hikes, Triggering Wage-Price Cycle By […]

StL Fed’s Musalem: Must Lean Against Inflation If Expectations Become Unanchored

– May Have To Leave Rates Unchanged Longer Or Hike Rates If Inflation Worsens By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Although downside risks to the labor market have increased, so have upside risks to inflation and inflation expectations, and such a combination could create a difficult monetary policy dilemma, St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President […]

TARIFFS STATE OF PLAY: Confusion as Tariffs and Tariff Threats Multiply

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – As one round of tariffs took effect Tuesday and more were threatened, rampant uncertainty permeated plunging U.S. stock markets while interest rates continued to dramatically ease. Analysts found themselves giving contradictory assessments on the business channels as the probabilities for more Federal Reserve rate cuts this year were coupled with dire predictions […]