IMF’S WORLD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK: WORLD GROWTH REVISED +0.3 TO 5.5%
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The International Monetary Fund’s January update to its World Economic Outlook Tuesday saw world growth revised up 0.3 to 5.5%, fueled by a vaccine-propelled recovery. Last year’s performance benefited from a stronger than previously seen second half and it was revised up 0.9 to a contraction of 3.5%. U.S. growth was revised […]
DATA PREVIEW: RETAIL SALES AND INFLATION MEASURES
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Economic data in the week ahead includes the December retail sales report, along with the two major inflation measures, the CPI just a week from Inauguration Day and the PPI but market participants are unlikely to pay much attention. The major stock indexes were propelled back into record territory Friday, in part […]
DATA PREVIEW: PERSONAL INCOME, REVISED GDP AND MUCH MORE
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – It’s time for Christmas already, and the holiday and the fact Christmas Eve is now a federal holiday as well has rearranged some of the week’s data reports. Yet with the possible exception of the weekly claims report, now coming Wednesday morning, very little if any of the week’s data is expected […]
FOMC: RATES NEAR ZERO THRU 2023
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee, as expected, stood still in its latest policy statement Wednesday, accompanied by quarterly projections that saw the federal funds rate at 0.1% through 2023. The following is the text of the FOMC statement: The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support […]
STATUS CHECK: RUMOR CHECK – 2020 WILL END AT SOME POINT
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Friday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. Wait, this just in. The Brexit talks have fallen apart. You don’t look surprised. Or even interested. Someday a headline will flash. Brexit Talks Fall Together. Time is running out, after all. The […]
STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY- STILL WAITING FOR YELLEN
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Tuesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. · President-Elect Joe Biden’s slate of foreign policy, national security and domestic security picks who made their formal debut Tuesday did not yet include Janet Yellen, who perhaps will get a solo event […]
DATA PREVIEW: ODD THANKSGIVING CAPS OFF A BUSY WEEK
By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – As a result of surging COVID cases, the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday will be the strangest on record, with a Zoom screen at the other end of the table rather than relatives. It could prevent the spread of COVID, but it may also prevent the usual Thanksgiving sporting event in […]
DATA FLASH: U.S. OCTOBER EXISTING HOME SALES ADVANCE FURTHER
–Existing Home Sales Rise by 4.3% to a 6.85 Million Rate, High Since Feb 2006 By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – U.S. existing home sales surged again in October are now at the highest point since February 2006. National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said the data are “amazing” and noted that 2020 […]
DATA PREVIEW: RETAIL SALES PAYBACK DUE AFTER BRISK SEPTEMBER
By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – A surprise jump in September retail sales, led by a surge in motor vehicle sales, was a blip in what appears to be a continued slowing trend in sales growth. October retail sales should rise only modestly when released next Tuesday following an outsized 1.9% jump in September. While […]
STATUS CHECK – FROM THE SEAT OF POWER, POWERLESSNESS AS VOTES TOTALED
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Wednesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. The networks plodded on Wednesday night, with nothing much new to report, as talking heads artfully kept the ball rolling, even if it was in circles, waiting. President Trump was watching, likely clicking […]