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 […]

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 FLASH: US SECOND QUARTER GDP CONTRACTS BY 32.9% ON FULL COVID IMPACT

—Second Quarter PCE Plunged by 34.6% After 6.9% Drop in First Quarter–First Quarter GDP Unrevised at 5.0% Decline, Fourth Quarter GDP Revised Up To 2.4% Gain–Initial Jobless Claims Rise By 12,000 to 1.434 Mln, 4-Week Average Up For First Time Since April By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – As expected, the U.S. economy contracted sharply […]

THE JULY FOMC AND BEYOND – WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE FED

By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Even though the U.S. economy’s partial recovery has lately shown signs of faltering in face of renewed anti-coronavirus restrictions, it would be little short of astonishing if the Federal Reserve’s policy making Federal Open Market Committee were to announce any new monetary stimulus initiatives at the conclusion of its […]

FED’S BEIGE BK: SOME BOUNCEBACK FROM STILL VERY LOW LEVELS

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The latest Federal Reserve Beige Book survey of economic conditions in all 12 Districts published Wednesday was particularly uninformative this time around, providing little insight beyond generally available information on what’s happening to guide the upcoming meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. The summary and District-by-District snapshots, assembled by the Chicago […]

EXCERPTS: BOC’S MACKLEM: REOPENING SURGE TO GIVE WAY TO BUMPINESS

OTTAWA (MaceNews) – Bank of Canada Gov. Tiff Macklem Wednesday said the decision to hold the policy rate at the lower bound and maintain the pace of quantitative easing was based on the assessment that the current rebound of economy activity will give way to a “slower and bumpier recuperation phase.” The following are excerpts […]

DATA FLASH: US JUNE CPI RISES 0.6% ON ENERGY PRICE REBOUND

–Core Prices Up 0.2%; Ex-Energy, CPI Up 0.3%;–Energy Prices Up 5.1% –NFIB Survey Shows Continued Improvement, Sales Outlook Sharply Improved–Redbook Weekly Retail Sales Show July Up 3.0% From June, Down 5.5% Y/Y By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – U.S. consumer prices were above expectations as energy prices rebounded, food prices rose further and core prices […]

DATA PREVIEW: JUNE DATA SOLID, BUT COVID REBOUND LOOMS

By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The U.S. data for June have been generally positive, with a solid gain in nonfarm payrolls and the above-50 ISM readings for both the manufacturing and nonmanufacturing sectors. Of course, much of this was before several large states reported rebounds in their COVID-19 cases, so the silver cloud comes […]

DATA FLASH: US JUNE PPI A SURPRISE, DOWN 0.2% ON FOOD REVERSAL

–Prices Ex-Food/Energy -0.3%; Up 0.3% Excluding Trade Services as Well–Energy Prices Rise Further 7.7% on a 26.3% Jump in Gasoline Prices–Food Prices Plunge 5.2% After a 6.0% Jump in May By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – U.S. business prices fell 0.2% in June, a fourth decline in the last five months. The June drop was […]

FED’S DALY/BARKIN SEE HUGE PANDEMIC-CAUSED ECONOMIC CHALLENGES STILL TO COME

By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The presidents of the Richmond and San Francisco Federal Reserve Banks Tuesday saw huge challenges ahead as government virus response programs ebb, landlords without rent payments pressure banks, displaced workers stay unemployed  and customers get less enthusiastic about visits to bricks and mortar establishments as the pandemic hangs on. […]