USA The ISM Services index was in the spotlight. In short, the service sector started the year off on a high note. In January, the headline index jumped to a reading of 53.4, up from 50.5 in December. The surprisingly strong upturn is evidence that service sector activity is still running at a [...]
USAOverall, the messaging from the Federal Reserve was positive. Chair Powell stated that the committee was pleased by the progress made thus far on returning inflation to their 2% target, but noted that they would require more time to assess the sustainability of current disinflation trends. With economic growth accelerating last year on the back [...]
USA Real GDP expanded 3.3% annualized in the fourth quarter, a lot more than the median economist forecast calling for a +2.0% print. Year on year, real GDP expanded 3.1%. Domestic demand grew at a healthy clip in the three months to December, supported by household consumption (+2.8% QoQ annualized) as well as [...]
USA Retail sales rose 0.6% in December, overshooting the +0.4% print expected by consensus. The prior month’s result was left unchanged at +0.3%. Sales of motor vehicles and parts contributed positively to the headline print by advancing 1.1% in the final month of Q4. Without autos, retail outlays rose a consensus-topping 0.4% as [...]
USA The Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% in December, more than the median economist forecast calling for a +0.2% print. The index had edged up 0.1% the month before. Prices in the energy segment progressed 0.4% as declines in two categories—fuel oil (-5.5%) and utility gas services (-0.4%)—were more than offset by gains [...]
USANonfarm payrolls rose 216K in December, more than the median economist forecast calling for a +175K print. This positive surprise, however, was offset by a -71K cumulative revision to the previous months ‘data. Employment in the goods sector in December advanced 22K thanks in large part to a 17K gain in the construction sector on [...]
USA The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose just 0.1% in November, amounting to a 3.1% year-to-year upswing. The headline print was muted by a downdraft in gasoline prices and ongoing moderation in food costs. In contrast, firmer services prices continue to prop up core inflation. A 0.3% monthly uptick in core prices [...]
USA Nonfarm payrolls rose 199K in November, more than the median economist forecast calling for a +185K print. This positive surprise was offset by a -35K cumulative revision to the previous thanks in large part to a 28K gain in the manufacturing sector. Construction payrolls also expanded (+2K), but only marginally. Jobs in [...]
USA Nominal personal income increased 0.2% in October, in line with the median economist forecast. The wage/salary component showed just a 0.7% gain, the smallest in 10 months, whereas income derived from government transfers edged down 0.7%. Personal current taxes, meanwhile, fell 0.2%. All this translated into a 0.3% increase in disposable income Nominal personal spending, for [...]
USA The S&P Global Flash Composite PMI remained unchanged in November at 50.7 and consistent with just a modest expansion in private sector activity. New orders returned to growth in the month after three consecutive contractions, but that did not prevent yet another decline in unfinished business. Reduced work backlogs in turn encouraged firms to cut [...]
