USAThe Consumer Price Index progressed 0.4% in February, in line with consensus expectations. Prices in the energy segment retreated 0.6% as an increase for gasoline (+1.0%) was more than offset by steep declines for fuel oil (-7.9%) and utility gas services (-8.0%). The cost of food, meanwhile, rose 0.4%, marking its smallest progression in nearly [...]
USA· Nonfarm payrolls rose 311K in February, more than the median economist forecast calling for a +225K print. The previous months’ data. meanwhile were revised downward a cumulative 34K. Employment in the goods sector advanced 20K as a 4K drop in manufacturing was more than offset by a strong gain in the construction segment (+24K). Jobs [...]
USA The ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI remained relatively stable in expansion territory in February, moving from 55.2 to 55.1. This stabilization confirms that the December decline in the ISM index was exacerbated by poor weather conditions which caused numerous power outages and disrupted the travel plans of several households. Growth in business activity decelerated (from 60.4 to [...]
USA The Consumer Price Index sprang 0.5% in January, the most in seven months. This was roughly in line with consensus expectations. Prices in the energy segment jumped 2.0% as a decline for fuel oil (-1.2%) was more than offset by steep increases for gasoline (+2.4%) and utility gas services (+6.7%). The cost of food, meanwhile, [...]
USA The Consumer Price Index sprang 0.5% in January, the most in seven months. This was roughly in line with consensus expectations. Prices in the energy segment jumped 2.0% as a decline for fuel oil (-1.2%) was more than offset by steep increases for gasoline (+2.4%) and utility gas services (+6.7%). The cost of food, meanwhile, [...]
USA The trade deficit widened from $61.0 billion in November to $67.4 billion in December. The expansion was due in large part to a 1.8% surge in goods imports (to $258.8 billion), led by consumer goods ($4.1 billion) and automotive vehicles/parts ($2.9 billion). Good exports, meanwhile, contracted 1.7% (to $168.1 billion) on decreases for industrial supplies [...]
USA Nonfarm payrolls surged 517K in January, the most in 6 months and nearly three times as much as the +188K print expected by consensus. Adding to this positive surprise, the previous months’ data were revised upward a cumulative 71K. Note that historical establishment data have been revised in January as a result of the annual [...]
USA The Bureau of Economic Analysis put out its first estimate of Q4 GDP growth. The economy reportedly expanded 2.9% annualized in the quarter, a bit more than the median economist forecast calling for a +2.6% print. This gain hoisted economic output 5.1% above its pre-COVID level and reduced the output gap to only 0.5%. Domestic [...]
USA Retail sales were down 1.1% in December. Economists were expecting them to decline 0.9%. Adding to the disappointment, November’s sales growth was revised down from -0.6% to -1.0%. Sales of motor vehicles/parts contributed negatively to the headline print, contracting 1.2%. Without autos, retail outlays retreated 1.1% as small gains for building materials (+0.3%) and sporting [...]
USA The Consumer Price Index edged down 0.1% in December, the indicator’s first decline in five months. The result was in line with consensus expectations. Prices in the energy segment dropped 4.5% as declines for fuel oil (-16.6%) and gasoline (-9.4%) were only partially offset by a 3.0% gain for utility gas services. The cost of [...]
