GOVERMENT REPORT SERIES Applications for US unemployment insurance last week increased slightly to the highest point since January, indicating that the strength in the labor market is moderating. SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA; in the week ending July 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 235,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week’s … Read more
GOVERNMENT REPORT SERIES The Commerce Department published Tuesday that factory orders rose 1.6% in May after advancing 0.7% in April. The street had forecast factory orders would rise about 0.6%.. The Institute for Supply Management’s national factory activity index contracted for a second straight month, which indicates companies are hiring. Report details In May, there were … Read more
GOVERNMENT REPORT SERIES Investors on Friday were signaling they believe higher rates have already begun to bring inflation down. The five year break even rate is a measure of where the market believes inflation will be in five years’ time fell to its lowest level since January 2022 (see chart below) The Atlanta Fed’s and … Read more
GOVERNMENT REPORT SERIES What the PCE tells US is…. reflecting shifts that consumers are making to adjust for those higher prices. New U.S. data for May showed mitigating relief from the record pace of inflation pushing the Federal Reserve toward another interest rate increase next month, however even pundits believe that the bottom is near. … Read more
GOVERNMENT REPORT SERIES UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS Initial jobless claims were down last week, and were marginally lower than Govt forecast; as investors continue to assess the labor market for potential signs of a slowdown. SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 231,000, a … Read more
GOVERNMENT REPORT SERIES Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the first quarter of 2022, according to the “third” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2021, real GDP increased 6.9 percent. The “third” estimate of GDP released today is based on more … Read more
GOVERNMENT REPORT SERIES The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® decreased in June, following a decline in May. The Index fell to 98.7 (1985=100)—down 4.5 points from 103.2 in May—and now stands at its lowest level since February 2021 (Index, 95.2). “Purchasing intentions for cars, homes, and major appliances held relatively steady—but intentions have cooled since … Read more
GOVERNMENT REPORT SERIES Orders at U.S. factories for long-lasting goods and heavy machinery rose 0.7%, $267.2 billion +0.7%in May, a stronger than expected report. Economists had forecast a 0.2% advance. It was the seventh gain in the last eight months. Viewed by investors as a signal of future business; factories are still producing a lot … Read more
GOVERNMENT REPORT SERIES The only thing that saves us from the bureaucracy is its inefficiency Public bureaucracies are less efficient than private organizations in most all of their activities. This is attributed to the absence of competition and of the profit motive. Now, back on Topic Inflation is still picking up pace The media focuses … Read more