Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 0.1% in March, after rising 0.2% in February. CPI increased 2.4% from a year ago, down from 2.8% in February. The index for shelter rose 0.2%, the index for food rose 0.4%, and the energy index fell 2.4% over the month. The index for food at home […]
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U.S. ADDED 228K JOBS IN MARCH, BEATING EXPECTATIONS
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 228,000 in March and the unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.2%. Consensus was a gain of 135,000 jobs. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for January was revised down by 14,000, from +125,000 to +111,000, and the change for February was revised down by 34,000, from […]
Read MoreU.S. CONSUMER SPENDING REBOUNDED IN FEBRUARY
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.4%, or $87.8 billion, in February after falling 0.3% in January. Personal income increased by 0.8%, or $194.7 billion, in February, up from 0.7% in January. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.3% in February and is up 2.5% from a year prior. The core personal […]
Read MoreHOME PRICES INCREASED SLIGHTLY IN JANUARY
Key Points: The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 4.1% in the year that ended in January, up from 4.0% in December. The 20-City Composite posted a year-over-year increase of 4.7%, up from a 4.5% increase in the previous month. The […]
Read MoreHOME SALES ROSE 4.2% IN FEBRUARY
Key Points: Existing-home sales rose 4.2% in February from January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.26 million. Sales slipped 1.2% from one year ago. The median existing-home sales price rose 3.8% from February 2024 to $398,400, the 20th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases. First-time buyers were responsible for 31% of sales in […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES REBOUND IN FEBRUARY BUT MISS EXPECTATIONS
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose 0.2% in February, up from a downward revised 1.2% decrease in January. Consensus was a gain of 0.7%. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 0.3% over the month. Retail sales were 3.1% above February 2024 but CPI data released earlier this […]
Read MoreINFLATION COOLED IN FEBRUARY FOR TRUMP’S FIRST CPI REPORT
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% in February, after rising 0.5% in January. CPI increased 2.8% from a year ago, down from 3.0% in January. The index for shelter rose 0.3%, the index for food rose 0.2%, and the energy index rose 0.2% over the month. The index for food at home […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS ROSE IN JANUARY ABOVE EXPECTATIONS
Key Points: The number of available jobs continues to outnumber Americans looking for work once again. Job openings rose to 7.74 million in January, above consensus, after December was revised down by 92,000 to 7.5 million. The number of job openings increased in real estate and rental and leasing (+46,000). The U.S. added 124,000 jobs […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDED 151K JOBS IN FEBRUARY
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 151,000 in February and the unemployment rate fell changed little at 4.1%. Consensus was a gain of 160,000 jobs. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for December was revised up by 16,000, from +307,000 to +323,000, and the change for January was revised down by 18,000, […]
Read MoreTHE FED’S PREFERRED INFLATION MEASURE SLOWS IN JANUARY
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending fell by 0.2%, or $30.7 billion, in January after rising 0.8% in December. Personal income increased by 0.9%, or $221.9 billion, in January, up from 0.4% in December. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.3% in January and is up 2.5% from a year prior. The core personal […]
Read MoreHOUSING PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE
Key Points: The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 3.9% in the year that ended in December, up from 3.7% in November. The 20-City Composite posted a year-over-year increase of 4.5%, up from a 4.4% increase in the previous month. The […]
Read MoreHOME SALES FELL 4.9% IN JANUARY
Key Points: Existing-home sales fell 4.9% in January from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.08 million. Sales accelerated 2.0% from one year ago, the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year increase. The median existing-home sales price rose 4.8% from January 2024 to $396,900, the 19th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases. First-time buyers […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES PLUMMET IN JANUARY FROM DECEMBER
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, fell 0.9% in January, down from a revised 0.7% increase in December. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 0.4% over the month. Retail sales were 4.2% above January 2024 but CPI data released earlier this month showed prices have increased 3.0% in […]
Read MoreREAL WAGES FELL 1.3% UNDER BIDEN ADMIN, PRICES ROSE 21.5%
Key Points: Real average hourly earnings are hourly earnings adjusted for inflation. They are one measure of real wages, which represent the economic return to work. Despite average hourly earnings trending up, wages are still down after adjusting for inflation. The final Consumer Price Index (CPI) reading under Biden rose 0.5% in January from December […]
Read MorePRICES JUMPED 3.0% IN BIDEN’S FINAL INFLATION REPORT
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.5% in January, after rising 0.4% in December. CPI increased 3.0% from a year ago, up from 2.9% in December, and the highest reading since June. The index for shelter rose 0.4%, the index for food rose 0.4%, and the energy index rose 1.1% over the month. […]
Read MoreU.S. ECONOMY ADDED 143K JOBS IN JANUARY
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 143,000 in January and the unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.0%. Consensus was a gain of 170,000 jobs. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for November was revised up by 49,000, from 212,000 to 261,000, and the change for December was revised up by 51,000, from […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS DECLINED IN DECEMBER
Key Points: The number of available jobs continues to outnumber Americans looking for work once again. Job openings decreased to 7.6 million in December after November was revised up by 58,000 to 8.2 million. There are 1.3 million fewer job openings than December 2023. The number of job openings decreased in professional and business services […]
Read MoreFED’S PREFERRED INFLATION MEASURE ROSE IN DECEMBER
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.7%, or $133.6 billion, in December, up from 0.4% in November. Personal income increased by 0.4%, or $92.0 billion, in December, up from 0.3% in November. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.3% in December and is up 2.6% from a year prior. The core personal […]
Read MoreU.S. HOME PRICES CONTINUED GAINS IN NOVEMBER
Key Points: The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 3.8% in the year that ended in November. The 20-City Composite posted a year-over-year increase of 4.3%, up from a 4.2% increase in the previous month. The 10-City Composite saw an annual […]
Read MoreREAL WAGES FELL 1.5% UNDER BIDEN ADMIN
Key Points: Real average hourly earnings are hourly earnings adjusted for inflation. They are one measure of real wages, which represent the economic return to work. Despite average hourly earnings trending up, wages are still down after adjusting for inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.4% in December from November and is up 2.9% […]
Read MoreU.S. RETAIL SALES DECELERATED IN DECEMBER
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose 0.4% in December, down from a revised 0.8% increase in November. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 0.4% over the month. Retail sales were 3.9% above December 2023 but CPI data released earlier this month showed prices have increased 2.9% in […]
Read MoreINFLATION TICKS UP AGAIN, RISING TO 2.9% IN DECEMBER
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.4% in December, after rising 0.3% in November. CPI increased 2.9% from a year ago, up from 2.7% in November, and the highest reading since July. The index for shelter rose 0.3%, the index for food rose 0.3%, and the energy index rose 2.6% over the month. […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDED 256K JOBS IN DECEMBER
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 256,000 in December and the unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.1%. Consensus was a gain of 160,000 jobs. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for October was revised up by 7,000, from +36,000 to +43,000, and the change for November was revised down by 15,000, from […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS TICKED UP IN NOVEMBER
Key Points: The number of available jobs continues to outnumber Americans looking for work once again. Job openings rose to 8.1 million in November after October was revised up by 95,000 to 7.8 million. There are 833 thousand fewer job openings than November 2023. The number of job openings increased in professional and business services […]
Read MoreFED’S PREFERRED INFLATION GAUGE ROSE IN NOVEMBER
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.4%, or $81.3 billion, in November, up from 0.3% in October. Personal income increased by 0.3%, or $71.1 billion, in November, down from 0.7% in October. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.1% in November and is up 2.4% from a year prior. The core personal […]
Read MoreNOVEMBER HOME SALES POST BIGGEST ANNUAL GAIN SINCE 2021
Key Points: Existing-home sales rose 4.8% in November from October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.15 million. Sales accelerated 6.1% from one year ago, the largest year-over-year gain since June 2021 (+23.0%). The median existing-home sales price rose 4.7% from November 2023 to $406,100, the 17th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases. First-time […]
Read MoreU.S. RETAIL SALES ROSE IN NOVEMBER
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose 0.7% in November, up from 0.5% increase in October. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by just 0.2% over the month. Retail sales were 3.8% above November 2023 but CPI data released earlier this month showed prices have increased 2.7% in the […]
Read MoreREAL WAGES STILL DOWN 1.3% UNDER BIDEN
Key Points: Real average hourly earnings are hourly earnings adjusted for inflation. They are one measure of real wages, which represent the economic return to work. Despite average hourly earnings trending up, wages are still down after adjusting for inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.3% in November from October and is up 2.7% […]
Read MoreINFLATION TICKED UP IN NOVEMBER, UP 2.7% IN LAST YEAR
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.3% in November, after rising 0.2% in each of the previous 4 months. CPI increased 2.7% from a year ago, up from 2.6% in October, and in line with consensus. The index for shelter rose 0.3%, the index for food rose 0.4%, and the energy index rose […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDED 227K JOBS IN NOVEMBER, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ROSE TO 4.2%
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 227,000 in November and the unemployment rate rose to 4.2%. Consensus was a gain of 200,000 jobs. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for September was revised up by 32,000, from +223,000 to +255,000, and the change for October was revised up by 24,000, from +12,000 […]
Read MoreU.S. JOB OPENINGS ROSE IN OCTOBER
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May 2021 continues to outnumber Americans looking for work, but the gap is narrowing. Job openings rose to 7.7 million in October after September was revised down by 71,000 to 7.4 million. There are 1.1 million fewer job openings than October 2023. The number of job openings […]
Read More24 STATES HAD HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THAN LAST YEAR
Key Points: Unemployment rates rose in three states, fell in one, and remained stable in 46 states and the District of Columbia in October. The U.S. unemployment rate changed little at 4.1% in October and is 0.3% higher than October 2023. In total, 24 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.1%, […]
Read MoreU.S. CONSUMERS INCREASED SPENDING IN OCTOBER
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose 0.4% in October, down from 0.8% increase in September. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by just 0.1% over the month. Retail sales were 2.8% above October 2023 but CPI data released earlier this month showed prices have increased 2.6% in the […]
Read MoreREAL WAGES DOWN 1.4% UNDER BIDEN AND HARRIS
Key Points: Real average hourly earnings are hourly earnings adjusted for inflation. They are one measure of real wages, which represent the economic return to work. Despite average hourly earnings trending up, wages are still down after adjusting for inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% in October from September and is up 2.6% […]
Read MoreINFLATION TICKED UP IN OCTOBER, PRICES UP 2.6% IN LAST YEAR
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% in October, the same reading as the three previous months. CPI increased 2.6% from a year ago, up from 2.4% in September, and in line with consensus. The index for shelter rose 0.4%, the index for food rose 0.2%, and the energy index was unchanged over […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDS JUST 12K JOBS IN OCTOBER, REVISIONS ERASE 112K JOBS FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 12,000 in October and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1%. Consensus was a gain of 113,000 jobs. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for August was revised down by 81,000, from +159,000 to +78,000, and the change for September was revised down by 31,000, from […]
Read MoreKEY INFLATION RATE HITS 2.1% IN SEPTEMBER, AS EXPECTED
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.5%, or $105.8 billion, in September, up from 0.3% in August. Personal income increased by 0.3%, or $71.6 billion, in September, after rising 0.2% in August. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.2% in September and is up 2.1% from a year prior. The core personal […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS FELL TO 7.4M IN SEPTEMBER
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May 2021 continues to outnumber Americans looking for work, but the gap is narrowing. Job openings fell to 7.4 million in September after August was revised down by 179,000 to 7.9 million. There are 1.9 million fewer job openings than September 2023. The number of job openings […]
Read MoreEXISTING HOME SALES SLIDE 1% IN SEPTEMBER, PRICES UP 3% FROM LAST YEAR
Key Points: Existing-home sales fell 1.0% in September from August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.84 million. Existing-home sales fell 3.5% from one year ago. At $404,500, the median existing-home sales price for September was the 15th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases. First-time buyers were responsible for 26% of sales in September, […]
Read MoreUNEMPLOYMENT RATES ROSE IN 5 STATES IN SEPTEMBER
Key Points: Unemployment rates rose in 5 states, fell in one, and remained stable in 44 states and the District of Columbia in September. The U.S. unemployment rate changed little at 4.1% in September and is 0.3% higher than September 2023. In total, 23 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.1%, […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES ROSE IN SEPTEMBER, STILL PACING BEHIND INFLATION
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose 0.4% in September, up from 0.1% increase in August. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by just 0.5% over the month. Retail sales were 1.7% above September 2023 but CPI data released earlier this month showed prices have increased 2.4% in the […]
Read MoreREAL WAGES STILL DOWN 1.4% UNDER BIDEN AND HARRIS
Key Points: Real average hourly earnings are hourly earnings adjusted for inflation. They are one measure of real wages, which represent the economic return to work. Despite average hourly earnings trending up, wages are still down after adjusting for inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% in September from August and is up 2.4% […]
Read MoreINFLATION COOLING SLOWER THAN EXPECTED, CORE PRICES ROSE IN SEPTEMBER
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% in September, the same reading as August. CPI increased 2.4% from a year ago, down from 2.5% in August, but above consensus of 2.3%. The index for shelter rose 0.3%, the index for food rose 0.4%, and the energy index fell by 1.9%. The index for […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDED 254K JOBS IN SEPTEMBER
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 254,000 in September and the unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.1%. Both the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed people changed little in September. These measures are higher than a year earlier, when the jobless rate was 3.8%, and the number of unemployed people was 6.3 […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS TICKED UP IN AUGUST, DOWN BY 1.3 MILLION IN THE LAST YEAR
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May 2021 continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings rose 8.0 million in August after July was revised up by 38,000 to 7.7 million. There are 1.3 million fewer job openings than August 2023. The number of job openings increased in construction (+138,000) and in […]
Read MoreKEY FED INFLATION GAUGE AT 2.2% IN AUGUST, CORE PRICES JUMPED TO 2.7%
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.2%, or $47.2 billion, in August, down from 0.5% in July. Personal income increased by 0.2%, or $50.5 billion, in July, after rising 0.3% in July. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.1% in August and is up 2.2% from a year prior. The core personal […]
Read MoreHOME PRICES HIT NEW ALL TIME HIGH IN JULY
Key Points: The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 5.0% in the year that ended in July. The 20-City Composite posted a year-over-year increase of 5.9, down from a 6.5% increase in the previous month. The 10-City Composite showed an increase […]
Read MoreUNEMPLOYMENT RATES ROSE IN 6 STATES AND DC IN AUGUST
Key Points: Unemployment rates rose in 6 states and the District of Columbia, fell in one, and remained stable in 43 states in August. The U.S. unemployment rate changed little at 4.2% in August and is 0.4% higher than August 2023. In total, 27 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.2%, […]
Read MoreEXISTING HOME SALES FELL 2.5% IN AUGUST
Key Points: Existing-home sales fell 2.5% in August from July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.86 million. Existing-home sales fell 4.2% from one year ago. At $416,700, the median existing-home sales price for August was the 14th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases. First-time buyers were responsible for 26% of sales in August, […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES TAPER OFF IN AUGUST
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose 0.1% in August, far below July’s 1.1% increase. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by just 0.1% over the month. Retail sales were 2.1% above August 2023 but CPI data released earlier this month showed prices have increased 2.5% in the last […]
Read MoreREAL WAGES STILL DOWN 1.7% UNDER BIDEN AND HARRIS
Key Points: Real average hourly earnings are hourly earnings adjusted for inflation. They are one measure of real wages, which represent the economic return to work. Despite average hourly earnings trending up, wages are still down after adjusting for inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% in August from July and is up 2.5% […]
Read MoreINFLATION COOLED AGAIN IN AUGUST, CORE PRICES REMAIN HIGH
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% in August, the same reading as July. CPI increased 2.5% from a year ago, down from 2.9% in July and consensus of 2.6%. The index for shelter rose 0.5%, the index for food rose 0.1%, and the energy index fell by 0.8%. The index for food […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDS JUST 142K JOBS IN AUGUST, JUNE AND JULY REVISED DOWN BY 86K
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 142,000 in August and the unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.2%. Jobs gains were below consensus among economists of 160,000 jobs gained and the average monthly gain of 202,000 over the prior 12 months. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for June was revised down by […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS DECLINE IN JULY
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May 2021 continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings were unchanged at 7.67 million in July after June was revised down to 7.9 million. There are 1.1 million fewer job openings than July 2023. The number of job openings decreased in health care and social […]
Read MoreFED’S KEY INFLATION GAUGE ROSE 0.2% IN JULY, 2.5% FROM A YEAR AGO
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.5%, or $103.8 billion, in July, up from 0.3% in June. Personal income increased by 0.3%, or $75.1 billion, in July, after rising 0.2% in June. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.2% in July and is up 2.5% from a year prior. The core personal […]
Read MoreHOME PRICES HIT NEW ALL-TIME HIGH IN JUNE
Key Points: The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 5.4% in the year that ended in June. The 20-City Composite posted a year-over-year increase of 6.5%, down from a 6.9% increase in the previous month. The 10-City Composite showed an increase […]
Read MoreCONSUMER SPENDING JUMPED IN JULY
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose 1.0% in July, above consensus of a 0.3% increase. June was revised down from 0.0% to -0.2%. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 0.4% over the month. Retail sales were 2.7% above July 2023 but CPI data released earlier this month […]
Read MoreUNEMPLOYMENT RATES ROSE IN 13 STATES IN JULY
Key Points: Unemployment rates rose in 13 states, fell in one, and remained stable in 36 states and the District of Columbia in July. The U.S. unemployment rate rose 0.2% to 4.3% in July and is 0.8% higher than last year. In total, 28 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.3%, […]
Read MoreREAL WAGES DOWN 1.9% UNDER BIDEN
Key Points: Real average hourly earnings are hourly earnings adjusted for inflation. They are one measure of real wages, which represent the economic return to work. Despite average hourly earnings trending up, wages are still down after adjusting for inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% in July from June and is up 2.9% […]
Read MorePRICES INCREASED OVER THE MONTH, CORE PRICES REMAIN HIGH
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% in July after falling 0.1% in June. CPI increased 2.9% from a year ago, down from 3.0% in June and consensus of 3.0%. This is the first time CPI has come in below 3% since March 2021. The index for shelter rose 0.4%, the index for […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDS JUST 114K JOBS IN JULY, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TICKS UP TO 4.3%
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 114,000 in July and the unemployment rate rose 0.2% to 4.3%. Jobs gains were below consensus among economists of 175,000 jobs gained and the average monthly gain of 215,000 over the prior 12 months. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for May was revised down by […]
Read MoreTHE NUMBER OF U.S. JOB OPENINGS IS SHRINKING
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May 2021 continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings were unchanged at 8.2 million in June. There are 941 thousand fewer job openings than June 2023. Job openings increased in accommodation and food services (+120,000) and in state and local government, excluding education (+94,000). The […]
Read MoreFED’S KEY INFLATION GAUGE ROSE 2.5% FROM A YEAR AGO
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.3%, or $57.6 billion, in June, down from 0.4% in May. Personal income increased by 0.2%, or $50.4 billion, in June, after rising 0.4% in May. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.1% in June and is up 2.5% from a year prior. The core personal […]
Read MoreUNEMPLOYMENT RATES ROSE IN 8 STATES IN JUNE
Key Points: Unemployment rates rose in eight states, fell in one, and remained stable in 41 states and the District of Columbia in June. The U.S. unemployment rate rose 0.1% to 4.1% in June but is 0.5% higher than last year. In total, 26 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.1%, […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES FLAT IN JUNE
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, were unchanged in June, below consensus of a 0.2% increase. May was revised up from 0.1% to 0.3%. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 0.4% over the month. Retail sales were 2.3% above June 2023 but CPI data released earlier this month […]
Read MoreREAL WAGES STILL DOWN 1.9% SINCE BIDEN TOOK OFFICE
Key Points: Real average hourly earnings are hourly earnings adjusted for inflation. They are one measure of real wages, which represent the economic return to work. Despite average hourly earnings trending up, wages are still down after adjusting for inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 0.1% in June from May and is up 3.0% […]
Read MoreINFLATION DECLINED FOR FIRST TIME SINCE MAY 2020, CORE PRICES STILL RISING
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 0.1% in June, after no change in May. CPI increased 3.0% from a year ago, down from 3.3% in May and consensus of 3.1%. CPI has remained above 3% for 39 consecutive months dating back to April 2021. The index for shelter rose 0.2% and the energy […]
Read MoreJUNE ADDED 206K JOBS BUT REVISIONS AND RISING UNEMPLOYMENT BRING CONCERNS
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 206,000 in June and the unemployment rate rose 0.1% to 4.1%. Consensus among economists was a gain of 190,000 jobs. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for April was revised down by 57,000, from +165,000 to +108,000, and the change for May was revised down by […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS RISE IN MAY, APRIL REVISED DOWN
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May 2021 continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings rose from 7.9 million in April to 8.1 million in May There are 1.2 million fewer job openings than May 2023. In May, job openings decreased in accommodation and food services (-147,000) and in private educational […]
Read MoreKEY FED MEASURE SHOWS INFLATION ROSE 2.6% IN MAY FROM A YEAR AGO
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.2%, or $47.8 billion, in May, up from 0.1% in April. Personal income increased by 0.5%, or $114.1 billion, in May, after rising 0.3% in April. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index was unchanged in May and is up 2.6% from a year prior. The core personal […]
Read MoreNEW HOME SALES SLUMP 11.3% IN MAY TO 6-MONTH LOW
Key Points: New home sales fell 11.3% in May from April to a seasonally adjusted 619K. New home sales were 16.5% lower than May 2023. The median sales price of new houses sold in May was $417,400 and the average sales price was $520,000. The Right Facts will continue to monitor home sales.
Read MoreMAY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FELL IN 4 STATES, ROSE IN 3
Key Points: Unemployment rates rose in three states, fell in four, and remained stable in 43 states and the District of Columbia in May. The U.S. unemployment rate rose 0.1% to 4.0% in May but is 0.3% higher than last year. In total, 24 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.0%, […]
Read MoreHOME PRICES BREAK NEW RECORD
Key Points: Existing-home sales fell 0.7% in May from April, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.11 million. Existing-home sales fell 2.8% from one year ago. The median existing-home sales price for May rose 5.8% from one year ago to $419,300 for the eleventh consecutive month of year-over-year price increases and the highest price […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES STAGNANT IN SIGN OF CONSUMER STRAIN
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose just 0.1% in May, below consensus of 0.2%. March was revised down from 0.0% to -0.2%. Excluding autos, retail sales fell by 0.1% over the month, the same reading as the April revisions. Retail sales were 2.3% above May 2023 but […]
Read MoreREAL WAGES DOWN 2.2% UNDER BIDEN
Key Points: Real average hourly earnings are hourly earnings adjusted for inflation. They are one measure of real wages, which represent the economic return to work. Despite average hourly earnings trending up, wages are still down after adjusting for inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was unchanged in May from April and is up 3.3% […]
Read MoreINFLATION EASED SLIGHTLY IN MAY
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was unchanged in May, after rising 0.3% in April. CPI increased 3.3% from a year ago, down from 3.4% in April and consensus of 3.4%. CPI has remained above 3% for 38 consecutive months dating back to April 2021. The index for shelter rose 0.4% and the energy […]
Read MoreHIRING REBOUNDED IN MAY, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ROSE TO 4%
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 272,000 in May and the unemployment rate rose 0.1% to 4.0%. Consensus among economists was a gain of 185,000 jobs. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for March was revised down by 5,000, from +315,000 to +310,000, and the change for April was revised down by […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS FALL TO THREE-YEAR LOW
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May 2021 continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings fell from 8.4 million in March to 8.1 million in April, below consensus of 8.3 million and the lowest level in three years. There are 1.8 million fewer job openings than April 2023. In April, job […]
Read MorePRICES HELD STEADY IN APRIL, CONSUMERS SLOWED SPENDING
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.2%, or $39.1 billion, in April, down from 0.7% in March. Personal income increased by 0.3%, or $65.3 billion, in April, after rising 0.5% in March. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.3% in April and is up 2.7% from a year prior, the same readings […]
Read MoreHOUSING PRICES HIT NEW ALL-TIME HIGH IN MARCH
Key Points: The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 6.5% in the year that ended in March, the same reading as February. The 20-City Composite posted a year-over-year increase of 7.4%, up from a 7.3% increase in the previous month. The […]
Read MoreHOME SALES FALL AGAIN IN APRIL
Key Points: Existing-home sales fell 1.9% in April from March, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.14 million. Existing-home sales fell 1.9% from one year ago. The median existing-home sales price for April rose 5.7% from one year ago to $407,600 for the tenth consecutive month of year-over-year price increases and the highest price […]
Read MoreAPRIL UNEMPLOYMENT RATES DOWN IN FIVE STATES, UP IN TWO
Key Points: Unemployment rates rose in two states, fell in five, and remained stable in 43 states and the District of Columbia in April. The U.S. unemployment rate rose 0.1% to 3.9% in April but is 0.5% higher than last year. In total, 24 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 3.9%, […]
Read MoreREAL WAGES DOWN 2.7% UNDER BIDEN
Key Points: Real average hourly earnings are hourly earnings adjusted for inflation. They are one measure of real wages, which represent the economic return to work. Despite average hourly earnings trending up, wages are still down after adjusting for inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.3% in April from March and is up 3.4% […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES UNEXPECTEDLY FLAT IN APRIL
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, were unchanged in April, well below consensus of 0.4%. March was revised down from 0.7% to 0.6%. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 0.2% over the month, down from the revised 0.9% gain in March. Retail sales were 3.0% above April 2023 […]
Read MoreINFLATION EASED SLIGHTLY IN APRIL, PRICES STILL UP 3.4% FROM LAST YEAR
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.3% in April, after rising 0.4% in March. CPI increased 3.4% from a year ago, down from 3.5% in February and consensus of 3.5%. CPI has remained above 3% for 37 consecutive months dating back to April 2021. The index for shelter rose 0.4% and the energy […]
Read MoreU.S. HIRING SLOWED IN APRIL
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 175,000 in April and the unemployment rate rose 0.1% to 3.9%. Consensus among economists was a gain of 243,000 jobs. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for February was revised down by 34,000, from +270,000 to +236,000, and the change for March was revised up by […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS FALL, QUITS EASE IN MARCH
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May 2021 continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings fell from 8.8 million in February to 8.5 million in March, below consensus of 8.7 million. There are 1.1 million fewer job openings than March 2023. In March, job openings decreased in construction (-182,000) and in […]
Read MoreHOME PRICES TREND EVEN HIGHER IN FEBRUARY
Key Points: The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 6.4% in the year that ended in February, up from 6.0% in January. The 20-City Composite posted a year-over-year increase of 7.3%, up from a 6.6% increase in the previous month. The […]
Read MoreCORE PRICES TICKED UP IN MARCH
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.8%, or $160.9 billion, in March, the same reading as February. Personal income increased by 0.5%, or $122.0 billion, in March, after rising 0.3% in February. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.3% in March and is up 2.7% from a year prior. The core personal […]
Read MoreNEW HOME SALES SURGED IN MARCH
Key Points: New home sales rose 8.8% in March from February to a seasonally adjusted 693K. New home sales were 8.3% higher than March 2023. The median sales price of new houses sold in March was $430,700 and the average sales price was $524,800. The Right Facts will continue to monitor home sales.
Read More29 STATES HAVE HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THAN LAST YEAR
Key Points: Unemployment rates rose in one state, fell in six, and remained stable in 43 states and the District of Columbia in March. The U.S. unemployment rate fell 0.1% to 3.8% in March but is 0.3% higher than last year. In total, 23 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 3.8%, […]
Read MoreHOME SALES SLUMPED IN MARCH, PRICES HIT NEW RECORD
Key Points: Existing-home sales fell 4.3% in March from February, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.19 million. Existing-home sales fell 3.7% from one year ago. The median existing-home sales price for March rose 4.8% from one year ago to $393,500 for the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year price increases and the highest price […]
Read MoreU.S RETAIL SALES EXCEED ESTIMATES
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose 0.7% in March from February, well above consensus of 0.3%. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 1.1% over the month, well above expectations of 0.4%. Retail sales were 4.0% above March 2023 but CPI data released earlier this month showed prices […]
Read MoreREAL WAGES STILL DOWN 2.5% UNDER BIDEN
Key Points: Real average hourly earnings are hourly earnings adjusted for inflation. They are one measure of real wages, which represent the economic return to work. Despite average hourly earnings trending up, wages are still down after adjusting for inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.4% in March from February and is up 3.5% […]
Read MoreINFLATION TICKS UP IN MARCH, CORE PRICES REMAIN HIGH
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.4% in March, the same reading as February. CPI increased 3.5% from a year ago, up from 3.2% in February, and above consensus of 3.4%. The index for shelter rose 0.4% and the energy index rose 1.1% over the month. The index for food at home was […]
Read MoreHIRING ACCELERATED IN MARCH
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 303,000 in March and the unemployment rate fell 0.1% to 3.8%. Consensus among economists was a gain of 200,000 jobs. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for January was revised up by 27,000, from +229,000 to +256,000, and the change for February was revised down by […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS ROSE TO 8.8 MILLION IN FEBRUARY, JANUARY REVISED DOWN
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May 2021 continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings rose modestly to 8.8 million in February, slightly above consensus of 8.7 million. In February, job openings increased in finance and insurance (+126,000); state and local government, excluding education (+91,000); and arts, entertainment, and recreation (+51,000). […]
Read MoreCONSUMERS SPENDING MORE, MAKING LESS
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.8%, or $145.5 billion, in February, after rising 0.2% in January. Personal income increased by 0.3%, or $66.5 billion, in February, after rising 1.0% in January. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.3% in February and is up 2.5% from a year prior. The core personal […]
Read MoreHOUSING PRICES CONTINUE TO TREND UPWARD
Key Points: The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 6.0% in the year that ended in January after rising 5.6% in December. The 20-City Composite posted a year-over-year increase of 6.6%, up from a 6.2% increase in the previous month. The […]
Read MoreCALIFORNIA SURPASSES NEVADA FOR HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN FEBRUARY
Key Points: Unemployment rates rose in three states, fell in three, and remained stable in 44 states and the District of Columbia in February. The U.S. unemployment rate rose 0.2% to 3.9% in February. In total, 22 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 3.9%, 6 states and the District of Columbia […]
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