STATUS CHECK: LOOKING BEYOND THE ELECTION
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) –-The following is Sunday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: On this holiday weekend, instead of the usual recounting of the significant news of the day – of which there is none right now – today’s “Status Check” reflects on a speculative future beyond […]
STATUS CHECK: AN UNEXPECTED SILVER LINING IN A TRUMP TWEET
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) –-The following is Friday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: A week of many parts, – some scary, some absurd, some mystifying – and yet only a very few worth holding on to, with meaning for the future. That narrows it down to Tuesday’s […]
DATA PREVIEW: IS INFLATION NOW A TREE FALLING IN THE FOREST?
By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The highlight of next week, not counting a Monday holiday of course, will be the August readings of business and consumer inflation at the end of the week–indicators that were closely-watched before the COVID crisis. But now, thanks to much more pressing issues this year, inflation was put on […]
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: A MARKETS PULLBACK AND A PRESIDENTIAL PUSHBACK
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) –-The following is Thursday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: So severe was the day’s stocks pullback that the Nasdaq – pulled down 4.96% – was the lowest it’s been since … Tuesday a week ago. After so many record highs, how serious was […]
FED’S EVANS: ‘PARTISAN POLITICS’ THREATENS FISCAL RELIEF; POSES ‘SIGNIFICANT DOWNSIDE RISK’
NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Political wrangling threatens needed fiscal support for the U.S. economy, and poses a big downside risk, Chicago Fed President Charles Evans said Thursday. In unusually blunt language, Evans called out politicians for lack of action, saying the expiration of an array of federal programs threatens the recovery, and that more fiscal […]
DATA FLASH: US INITIAL CLAIMS FALL ON TECHINICAL FACTORS
–-Initial Claims -130,000 to 881,000, No Mention of Hurricane Laura–July Trade Gap Widens to 12-yr High $63.6 Billion; Sharp Gain in Imports–Nonfarm Productivity Revised Up on Smaller Output Plunge By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) –Initial claims fell by 130,000 in the August 29 week to a level of 881,000, well below the 958,000 level expected and […]
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 […]
US CBO TEXT: DEFICIT HEADING TO ALL-TIME RECORD; 10-YR OUTLOOK SURPRISES
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office Wednesday updated its outlook for annual budget deficits, and while the impending record widening is no surprise, the tapering toward the end of the next decade was unexpected. The following is the CBO text of its summary of the budget update, with boldfaced emphasis added: • Deficits […]
FED’S BEIGE BK SEES MIXED ECONOMY, ‘STALLED’ IN NY, STRONG IN CHI
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The latest Federal Reserve Beige Book survey of economic activity in all 12 regional districts Wednesday found a mixed picture, with a wide range of outcomes from “stalled” in the New York district to “strongly” improved in Chicago. Generally the survey prepared by the Minneapolis bank for the next Federal Open Market […]