Key Points U.S. builder confidence fell in May due to rapidly rising interest rates combined with the ongoing home price increases and construction costs, according to NAHB. The NAHB Housing Market index declined to a reading of 69 this month from 77 in April. This is the fifth consecutive month that builder sentiment has declined […]
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RETAIL SALES RISE IN APRIL DESPITE RECORD INFLATION
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose by 0.9% in April for the fourth straight month, as inflation held close to its highest level in 40 years. Consensus among economists was a 0.7% increase. April’s 0.9% increase comes after March’s revised 1.4% increase. Excluding autos, retail sales rose […]
Read MoreINFLATION REMAINS HIGH IN APRIL, LED BY FOOD AND ENERGY
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.3% in April and is up 8.3% in the last year, down slightly from March’s 8.5%, the highest rate since 1982. Price increases in the last year have been broad, impacting businesses and consumers. The overall food index rose 9.4%, food at home rose 10.8%, and food […]
Read MoreINFLATION EASED SLIGHTLY IN APRIL
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.3% in April after rising 1.2% in March. CPI increased 8.3% from a year ago, down from 8.5% in the year ending in March. Prices remained above 5% for the eleventh straight month. The core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.6% in April and is […]
Read MoreGAS PRICES HIT NEW ALL-TIME HIGH
Key Points: The national average price of a gallon of gas has increased to the highest level on record. Today’s $4.37 has surpassed the all-time U.S. average record of $4.32 from March 2022. Overall, the price of a gallon of regular gas has increased from $2.97 one year ago to $4.17 today. The price of […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDS 428K JOBS IN APRIL
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 428,000 in April as the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.6%. In April, the unemployed population was essentially unchanged at 5.9 million but there were 11.5 million job openings in March. Employment in leisure and hospitality added 78,000 jobs, manufacturing increased by 55,000, transportation and warehousing rose […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS HIT RECORD HIGH IN MARCH
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings increased to 11.5 million in March, a record high, but there were 6 million people unemployed. Job openings are up from 11.3 million in February and above the consensus of 11 million for March. The U.S. added […]
Read MoreDIESEL GAS HITS ALL TIME HIGH
Key Points: The national average price of a gallon of diesel gas has increased to the highest level on record. Today’s $5.32 has surpassed the all-time U.S. average record. Overall, the price of a gallon of diesel gas has increased from $3.09 one year ago to $5.32 today. The price of a gallon of diesel […]
Read MoreSPENDING, INCOME, AND PRICES ROSE IN MARCH
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 1.1%, or $185.0 Billion, in March. Personal income increased by 0.5%, or $107.2 Billion, in March. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.9% in March and is up 6.6% from a year prior. The core personal consumption expenditures price index, which excludes food and energy, rose […]
Read MoreHOME PRICES INCREASED 19.8% IN LAST YEAR
Key Points: Home-price growth slowed slightly in September as sky-high prices deterred some buyers. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 19.8% in the year that ended in February, up from 19.1% in the previous month. The 20-City Composite posted a […]
Read MoreU.S. HOME PRICES REACHED RECORD HIGH IN MARCH
Key Points U.S. home prices reached a record $375,300 in March as mortgage-interest rates rose and the shortage of homes for sale continued. Existing-home sales fell 2.7% in March from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.77 million, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. Existing-home sales fell 4.5% in March from a […]
Read MoreU.S. HOMEBUILDER CONFIDENCE CONTINUES TO FALL
Key Points U.S. homebuilder confidence fell in April due to rapidly rising interest rates combined with the ongoing home price increases and construction costs, according to NAHB. The NAHB Housing Market index declined to a reading of 77 this month from 79 in March. This is the fourth consecutive month that builder sentiment has declined. […]
Read MoreREAL WAGES CONTINUE TO DECLINE SINCE JANUARY 2021
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 trending up between January 2017 and January 2021, real wages have trended down since January 2021. Real average hourly earnings have fallen from $32.63 in March 2021 to […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES MISS EXPECTATIONS
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose by 0.5% in March over the month. Consensus among economists was a 0.6% increase. March’s 0.5% increase comes after February’s revised 0.8% increase. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 1.1% over the month. Spending slowed in part due to rising costs […]
Read MoreINFLATION ACCELERATED IN MARCH, HITS NEW 40 YEAR HIGH
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 1.2% in March after rising 0.8% in February. CPI increased 8.5% from a year ago, the highest reading in 40 years. Prices remained above 5% for the tenth straight month. The core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.3% in March and is up 6.5% from […]
Read MoreHOME SALES ROSE 19.2% IN JANUARY, INVENTORY REMAINS NEAR ALL-TIME LOWS
Key Points: Home-price growth accelerated in January as the supply of homes for sale fell to a new low. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 19.2% in the year that ended in January, up from 18.9% in the previous month. […]
Read MoreUS ADDS 431K JOBS IN MARCH
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 431,000 in March as the unemployment rate fell to 3.6%. Consensus among economists was a gain of 490,000 jobs. In March, the unemployed population fell to 6 million but there were 11.3 million job openings in February. Employment in leisure and hospitality added 112,000 jobs, professional and […]
Read MoreSPENDING ROSE 0.2% IN FEBRUARY, PRICES ROSE 0.6%
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.2%, or $34.9 Billion, in February. Personal income increased by 0.5%, or $101.5 Billion, in January. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.6% in February and is up 6.4% from a year prior. The core personal consumption expenditures price index, which excludes food and energy, rose […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS REMAIN NEAR RECORD HIGHS
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings increased slightly to 11.3 million in February but there were 6.3 million people unemployed in February. The U.S. added 678,000 jobs in February but there were 2.1 million fewer jobs than there were in February 2020. In […]
Read More13 STATES AND D.C. HAVE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES ABOVE THE U.S. AVERAGE
Key Points: Unemployment rates fell in 31 states and the District of Columbia and remained stable in 19 states in February. The U.S. unemployment rate fell by 0.2% over the month to 3.8%. 13 states and the District of Columbia have unemployment rates above the U.S. average. Nebraska and Utah have the lowest unemployment rate […]
Read MoreU.S. GAS PRICES REMAIN HIGH, CALIFORNIA PRICES ACCELERATING
Key Points: While the national average gas price is down from the record set on 3/11, California continues to set records. Overall, the price of a gallon of regular gas has increased from $2.88 one year ago to $4.17 today. In California, the price of a gallon of regular gas has increased from $3.88 one […]
Read MoreUP IN FLAMES: THE BIDEN EFFECT ON GAS PRICES
Key Points: Gas prices were stable or trending down during the Trump Administration. However, new upward trend emerged following Biden’s inauguration. The cancelation of the Keystone XL pipeline is one example of a Biden policy that raised gas prices.
Read MoreRETAIL SALES SLOWED IN FEBRUARY
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose by 0.3% in February over the month. Consensus among economists was a 0.4% increase. February’s 0.3% increase comes after January’s revised 4.9% increase. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 0.2% over the month. Spending slowed in part due to rising costs […]
Read MoreINFLATION REMAINS HIGH ACROSS THE SPECTRUM
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.8% in February and is up 7.9% in the last year, the highest rate since 1982. Price increases in the last year have been broad, impacting businesses and consumers. The food at home index rose 8.6% over the past 12 months. The largest increase in food was […]
Read MoreREAL WAGES: SINCE JANUARY 2021, IN DECLINE
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 trending up between January 2017 and January 2021, real wages have trended down since January 2021. Real average hourly earnings have fallen from $32.16 in February 2021 to […]
Read MoreINFLATION REACHED A NEW 40-YEAR HIGH IN FEBRUARY
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.8% in February after rising 0.6% in January. CPI increased 7.9% from a year ago, the highest reading in 40 years. Prices remained above 5% for the ninth straight month. The core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.6% in February and is up 6.4% from […]
Read MoreGAS PRICES HIT HIGHEST ON RECORD
Key Points: The national average price of a gallon of gas has increased to the highest level on record. Today’s $4.17 has surpassed the all-time U.S. average record of $4.11 from July 2008. Overall, the price of a gallon of regular gas has increased from $2.77 one year ago to $4.17 today. The price of […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDS 678,000 JOBS IN FEBRUARY
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 678,000 in February as the unemployment rate fell to 3.8%. Consensus among economists was a gain of 150,000 jobs. Nonfarm employment is down by 2.1 Million, or 1.4%, from pre-pandemic levels in February 2020. Employment in leisure and hospitality added 179,000 jobs, professional and business services increased […]
Read MoreGAS PRICES SOAR, UP $1 FROM A YEAR AGO
Key Points: Gas prices across the country continue to increase. Overall, the price of a gallon of regular gas has increased from $2.73 one year ago to $3.73 today. The price of gas has increased $0.32 in the last month, $0.19 in the last week, and $0.07 since yesterday. Currently, every states has gas prices […]
Read MoreSPENDING AND PRICES ROSE IN JANUARY, INCOME FLAT
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 2.1%, or $337.2 Billion, in January. Personal income increased less than 0.1%, or $9.0 Billion, in January. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.6% in January and is up 6.1% from a year prior. The core personal consumption expenditures price index, which excludes food and energy, […]
Read MoreSTRIKING THE MATCH: INFLATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Key Points: As the chart shows, there was an uptick in inflation in January of 2021, when election results gave Democrats control of the Senate. This reflected growing anticipation, by market participants, of the inflationary effects of the agenda that Democrats were likely to pass. There was then an acceleration when Democrats implemented their legislative […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES REBOUND IN JANUARY AFTER FALLING IN DECEMBER
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose by 3.8% in January over the month. Consensus among economists was a 2.0% increase. January’s 3.8% increase comes after December’s revised 2.5% decrease. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 3.3% over the month. Spending slowed in part due to rising costs […]
Read MoreINFLATION INCREASING PRICES ACROSS THE SPECTRUM
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.6% in January and is up 7.5% in the last year, the highest rate since 1982. Price increases in the last year have been broad, impacting businesses and consumers. The food at home index rose 7.4% over the past 12 months. The largest increase in food was […]
Read MoreINFLATION REMAINS AT 40-YEAR HIGH, UP 7.5% IN LAST YEAR
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.6% in January after rising 0.5% in December. CPI increased 7.5% from a year ago, the highest reading in 40 years. Prices remained above 5% for the eighth straight month. The core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.6% in January and is up 6.0% from […]
Read MoreGAS PRICES HIGHEST IN 8 YEARS
Key Points: Gas prices across the country continue to increase. Overall, the price of a gallon of regular gas has increased from $2.47 one year ago to $3.46 today. The price of gas has increased $0.16 in the last month and $0.08 in the last week. Gas prices have not been this high since 2014. […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDS 467K JOBS IN JANUARY, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES TO 4.0%
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 467,000 in January as the unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.0%. Consensus among economists was a gain of 150,000 jobs. Nonfarm employment is down by 2.9 Million, or 1.9%, from pre-pandemic levels in February 2020. Employment in leisure and hospitality added 151,000 jobs, professional and business services […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS CONTINUE TO OUTPACE UNEMPLOYED POPULATION
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings decreased slightly to 10.9 million in December but there were 6.3 million people unemployed in December. The U.S. added 199,000 jobs in December but there were 3.6 million fewer jobs than there were in February 2020. In […]
Read MoreCONSUMER SPENDING FELL AS PRICES ROSE IN DECEMBER
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending fell by $95.2 billion or 0.6% in December. Personal income increased by 0.3%, or by $70.7 Billion, in December. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.4% in December and is up 5.8% from a year prior. The core personal consumption expenditures price index, which excludes food and energy, […]
Read MoreHOME SALES FELL IN DECEMBER, PRICES UP 18.8% IN LAST YEAR
Key Points: Home-price growth slowed slightly in September as sky-high prices deterred some buyers. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 18.8% in the year that ended in November, down from 19.0% in the previous month. The 20-City Composite posted an […]
Read More12 STATES SET RECORD LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN DECEMBER
Key Points: Unemployment rates fell in 42 states and the District of Columbia and remained stable in 8 states in December. The U.S. unemployment rate fell by 0.3% over the month to 3.9%. 17 states and the District of Columbia have unemployment rates above the U.S. average. Nebraska has the lowest unemployment rate at 1.7%, […]
Read MoreGAS PRICES REMAIN HIGH AMID INFLATION
Key Points: Gas prices across the country continue to increase. Overall, the price of a gallon of regular gas has increased from $2.40 one year ago to $3.33 today. Inflation has severely impacted energy costs, which are up 29.3% in 2021 alone, led by gasoline which increased by 49.6% in 2021. California has the highest […]
Read MoreINFLATION SOARED IN 2021
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.5% in December and is up 7.0% in the last year, the highest rate since 1982. Price increases in the last year have been broad, impacting businesses and consumers. The food at home index rose 6.5% over the past 12 months. The largest increase in food was […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES FELL BY 1.9% IN DECEMBER
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, fell by 1.9% in December over the month. Consensus among economists was a 0.1% decline. November’s retail sales were revised down to a 0.2% increase. Excluding autos, retail sales fell by 2.3% over the month. Spending slowed in part due to rising […]
Read MoreINFLATION HITS 40 YEAR HIGH
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.5% in December after rising 0.8% in November. CPI increased 7.0% from a year ago, the highest reading in 40 years. Prices remained above 5% for the seventh straight month. The core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.6% in December and is up 5.5% from […]
Read MoreU.S. JOB GROWTH SLOWS IN DECEMBER, ADDS JUST 199K JOBS
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 199,000 in December as the unemployment rate fell 0.3% to 3.9%. Consensus among economists was a gain of 400,000 jobs. Nonfarm employment is down by 3.6 Million from pre-pandemic levels in February 2020. Employment in leisure and hospitality added 53,000 jobs, professional and business services increased by […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS REMAIN ABOVE UNEMPLOYED POPULATION, NOVEMBER SEES RECORD QUITS
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings decreased to 10.6 million in November but there were 6.9 million people unemployed in November. The U.S. added 210,000 jobs in November but there were 3.9 million fewer jobs than there were in February 2020. In November, […]
Read MoreTHE INSTITUTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE BEHIND RUSSIAGATE IS STARTING TO UNRAVEL
Download the report here. “Russiagate,” as the theory that Trump colluded with Russia came to be known, consumed at least three and a half years of Washington’s attention. It officially began with the launching on July 31, 2016 of the FBI counterintelligence investigation code named Crossfire Hurricane. This was soon followed by FBI surveillance of […]
Read MoreCOVID-19 ORIGINS AND POLITICIZED SCIENCE
Download the report here. Questions about COVID-19’s origins have existed since the beginning of the pandemic. From the outset, Chinese officials intentionally misled the world about the coronavirus outbreak and the dangers it posed. In late 2019 and early 2020, government authorities sought to conceal infections from their own population as well as from global […]
Read MoreUNEMPLOYMENT RATES FELL IN 40 STATES AND DC IN NOVEMBER
Key Points: Unemployment rates fell in 40 states and the District of Columbia and remained stable in 10 states in November. The U.S. unemployment rate fell by 0.4% over the month to 4.2%. 17 states and the District of Columbia have unemployment rates above the U.S. average. Nebraska has the lowest unemployment rate at 1.8%, […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES RISE BY 0.3% IN NOVEMBER, MISSING EXPECTATIONS
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose by 0.3% in November over the month. Consensus among economists was a 0.8% increase. November’s 0.3% increase was far below October’s 1.8% increase. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 0.3% over the month. Spending slowed in part due to rising costs […]
Read MoreTHE FED’S FAILURE TO PROJECT UNEMPLOYMENT, AGAIN
Key Points: In the midst of the Great Recession, the FOMC projected that the employment rate would be between 4.7% and 4.9% in 2009. In fact, the unemployment rate rose to 9.9% in 2009.
Read MoreTHE FED’S FAILURE TO PROJECT UNEMPLOYMENT
Key Points: In October 2007, as the Great Recession was about to begin, the FOMC projected that the employment rate would be between 4.8% and 4.9% in 2008. In fact, the unemployment rate rose to 7.8% in 2008.
Read MoreTHE FED’S FAILURE TO PROJECT INFLATION
Key Points: For the last decade, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has set itself an inflation target of 2% — a goal it has extraordinary power to control. Yet, year after year, the FOMC has never successfully delivered on that target. In December of 2020, the FOMC projected inflation would be 1.8%. After Congress […]
Read MoreINFLATION HIT 39-YEAR HIGH IN NOVEMBER
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.8% in November after rising 0.9% in October. CPI increased 6.8% from a year ago, the highest reading in 39 years. Prices remained above 5% for the sixth straight month. The core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.5% in November and is up 4.9% from […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS ACCELERATING PAST UNEMPLOYED POPULATION
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings increased to 11.0 million in October but there were 6.9 million people unemployed in November. The U.S. added 210,000 jobs in November but there were 3.9 million fewer jobs than there were in February 2020. In October, […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDS 210K JOBS IN NOVEMBER, MISSING EXPECTATIONS
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 210,000 in November as the unemployment rate fell 0.4% to 4.2%. Consensus among economists was a gain of 550,000 jobs. Nonfarm employment is down by 3.9 Million from pre-pandemic levels in February 2020. Manufacturing employment rose by 31,000, but is still down 253,000 from its level in […]
Read MoreMANUFACTURING PMI DROPS TO 11-MONTH LOW
Key Points: The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) captures business conditions in the manufacturing sector. Readings above 50 imply the economy is expanding while readings below 50 imply economic contraction. Manufacturing PMI decreased to 58.3 in November from 59.1 in October, an 11-month low. November’s reading was the second weakest rise in production over the […]
Read MoreHOME PRICES DECELERATED IN SEPTEMBER, STILL UP 19.5% IN LAST YEAR
Key Points: Home-price growth slowed slightly in September as sky-high prices deterred some buyers. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 19.5% in the year that ended in September, down from 19.8% in the previous month. The 20-City Composite posted a […]
Read MoreTHANSKGIVING DINNER COSTS 14% MORE THAN LAST YEAR
Key Points: A survey from the Farm Bureau indicates the average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10 is $53.31. This is a 14% increase from last year’s average of $46.90. The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables, the turkey, costs 24% more than last year at $23.99 for a 16-pound bird. Prices have […]
Read MoreCONSUMER SPENDING, INCOME, AND PRICES ROSE IN OCTOBER
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 1.3% in October, beating economists’ expectations of 0.9%. Personal income increased by 0.5%, or by $93.4 Billion, in October. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.6% in October and is up 5.0% from a year prior. The core personal consumption expenditures price index, which excludes food […]
Read MoreBUILD BACK BETTER: A TAX CUT, FOR THE RICH
Key points: The House passed Biden’s $2 Trillion “Build Back Better” bill on November 19. The bill plans to raise the $10,000 cap on the deduction for state and local taxes to $80,000 through 2030. To gain a sense of who wins and who loses, here is what a full repeal would do: 86% of […]
Read MoreUNEMPLOYMENT RATES FELL IN 28 STATES AND DC IN OCTOBER
Key Points: Unemployment rates fell in 28 states and the District of Columbia and remained stable in 22 states in October. The U.S. unemployment rate fell by 0.2% over the month to 4.6%. 23 states and the District of Columbia have unemployment rates above the U.S. average. Nebraska has the lowest unemployment rate at 1.9%, […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES ROSE BY 1.7% IN OCTOBER
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose by 1.7% in October over the month. Consensus among economists was a 1.4% increase. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 1.7% over the month. Higher spending in part reflects rising costs because consumer prices advanced 0.9% in October from September and […]
Read MoreHISTORIC HIGH IN JOB OPENINGS PERSIST
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings reached 10.4 million in September but there were 7.4 million people unemployed in October. The U.S. added 531,000 jobs in October but there were 5.7 million fewer jobs than there were in February 2020. In September, the […]
Read MoreINFLATION REACHED 30 YEAR HIGH IN OCTOBER, PRICES UP 6.2%
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.9% in October after rising 0.4% in September. CPI increased 6.2% from a year ago, the highest reading in 30 years. Prices remained above 5% for the fifth straight month. The core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.6% in October and is up 4.6% from […]
Read MoreGAS PRICES ARE $1.30 HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR
Key Points: Gas prices across the country continue to increase. Overall, the price of a gallon of regular gas has increased from $2.11 one year ago to $3.42 today. The price has increased $0.16 in the last month alone. California has the highest price at $4.63, followed by Hawaii at $4.34. Oklahoma has the lowest […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDS 531K JOBS IN OCTOBER
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 531,000 in October as the unemployment rate fell 0.2% to 4.6%. Consensus among economists was a gain of 450,000 jobs. Nonfarm employment is down by 5.7 Million from pre-pandemic levels in February 2020. Employment in retail trade increased by 35,000 in October, and is down by 140,000 […]
Read MoreREMINDER: REPEALING THE SALT CAP HELPS THE RICH IN 5 STATES PLUS DC, HURTS 42 STATES
Key points: Lawmakers are debating repealing the state and local tax (SALT) cap for five years. 86% of the total tax reduction from the state and local tax (SALT) cap lift goes to rich taxpayers making over $500,000; though they are just one percent of total taxpayers. The biggest effect of SALT repeal would be […]
Read MoreCONSUMER SPENDING SLOWED IN SEPTEMBER, INCOME FELL
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.6% in September, beating economists’ expectations of 0.5%. Personal income decreased by 1.0%, or by $216.2 Billion, in September. The decrease in personal income in September primarily reflected a decrease in government social benefits. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.3% in September and is up […]
Read MoreHOUSE PRICES ROSE 1% IN AUGUST, UP 18.5% IN LAST YEAR
Key Points: House prices rose nationwide in August, up 1.0% from the previous month. House prices rose 18.5% from August 2020 to August 2021. The 1.0% increase in August marks the 15th consecutive month of increases. Rising home prices are pushing some buyers out of the market. While existing home sales rose 7% in September, […]
Read MoreUNEMPLOYMENT RATES FELL IN 27 STATES IN SEPTEMBER
Key Points: Unemployment rates fell in 27 states and the District of Columbia, rose in 1 state, and remained stable in 22 states in September. The U.S. unemployment rate fell by 0.4% over the month to 4.8%. 16 states and the District of Columbia have unemployment rates above the U.S. average. Nebraska has the lowest […]
Read MoreTAX CUTS ARE NOT DRIVING THE U.S. DEFICIT
Key Points: The federal deficit has been a controversial subject as the Biden Administration blames the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and aims to increase taxes as a solution. However, data from the Congressional Budget Office shows the contrary. The government collected $627 billion more than it did in fiscal 2020, pulling in a […]
Read MoreINDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION FELL 1.3% IN SEPTEMBER
Key Points: Industrial production in the U.S. declined in September as supply-chain disruptions in the auto industry and lingering effects of Hurricane Ida weighed on manufacturing and mining output during the month. Industrial production, which includes output at factory, mining and utility companies, fell 1.3% in September from the previous month. September’s decline is the […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES ROSE BY 0.7% IN SEPTEMBER
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose by 0.7% in September over the month. Consensus among economists was a 0.2% decline. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 0.8% over the month. Higher spending in part reflects rising costs because consumer prices advanced 0.4% in September from August and […]
Read MoreCONSUMER PRICES INCREASED AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.4% in September after rising 0.3% in August. CPI increased 5.4% from a year ago, the same reading as July and the largest 12-month increase since August 2008. The core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2% in September and is up 4.0% from the previous […]
Read MoreJOB OPENINGS ACCELERATING PAST UNEMPLOYED POPULATION
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings reached 10.4 million in August but there were 7.7 million people unemployed in September. The U.S. added 194,000 jobs in September but there were 5.7 million fewer jobs than there were in February 2020. In August, the […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDS 194K JOBS IN SEPTEMBER, MISSING EXPECTATIONS
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 194,000 in September as the unemployment rate fell 0.4% to 4.8%. Consensus among economists was a gain of 500,000 jobs. This is the lowest gains since December 2020. Nonfarm employment is down by 5.7 Million from pre-pandemic levels in February 2020. Employment in retail trade increased by […]
Read MoreGAS PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE, UP $1.06 IN LAST YEAR
Key Points: Gas prices across the country continue to increase. Overall, the price of a gallon of regular gas has increased from $2.18 one year ago to $3.24 today. The price has increased $0.05 in the last week alone. California has the highest price at $4.43, followed by Hawaii at $4.12, and Washington at $3.85. […]
Read MoreCONSUMER SPENDING AND INCOME ROSE IN AUGUST, PRICES REMAIN HIGH
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.8% in August, beating economists’ expectations. Personal income increased by 0.2%, or by $35.5 Billion, in August. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.4% in August and is up 4.3% from a year prior. The core personal consumption expenditures price index, which excludes food and energy, […]
Read MoreWITHOUT PLAYING WITH THE NUMBERS, INCOME ROSE AND POVERTY FELL IN 2020
The Claim The headline on Bloomberg and elsewhere was that US household income went down in 2020 and poverty rose. USA Facts, a “non-partisan” provider of data described it this way. “Median household income decreased 2.9%, dropping from $69,560 in 2019 to $67,521 in 2020. By the end of 2020, there were 3.3 million more […]
Read MoreVIOLENT CRIME INCREASED 5.6% IN 2020
Key Points: The FBI released data showing that violent crime increased 5.6% overall in 2020. In 2020, there were an estimated 1,277,696 violent crimes. Motor Vehicle thefts rose 11.8%, aggravated assault offenses rose 12.1%, and murder and non-negligent manslaughter offenses increased 29.4%. There were 38,520 homicide incidents reported in 2020, compared to 27,908 in 2019. […]
Read MoreU.S. HOUSING MARKET COOLED IN AUGUST
Key Points: August existing-home sales posted a 2% decline from July, the biggest monthly decline since April. Sales last month also slid 1.5% from a year earlier, the first year-over-year decrease since June 2020. Recent home sales have hovered between about 5.8 million and 6 million, a noticeable pullback from the recent peak of 6.73 […]
Read MoreINFLATION INCREASING COSTS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.3% in August and is up 5.3% in the last year. Price increases in the last year have been broad, impacting businesses and consumers. The food at home index rose 3.0% over the past 12 months. Five of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased […]
Read MoreUNEMPLOYMENT FALLS IN 15 STATES IN AUGUST
Key Points: Unemployment rates fell in 15 states and the District of Columbia and remained stable in 35 states in August. The U.S. unemployment rate fell by 0.2% over the month to 5.2%, and is 3.2% lower than August 2020. 13 states and the District of Columbia have unemployment rates above the U.S. average. Nebraska […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES ROSE BY 0.7% IN AUGUST
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose by 0.7% in August over the month. Consensus among economists was a 0.8% decline. Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 1.8% over the month. July’s retail sales were revised from a 1.1% decline to a 1.8% decline. The Right Facts will […]
Read MoreINFLATION EASED IN AUGUST, PRICES REMAIN HIGH
Key Points: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.3% in August after rising 0.5% in July. CPI increased 5.3% from a year ago, down slightly from July’s 5.4% reading. The core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.1% in August and is up 4.0% from the previous year. The energy index rose 2.0% and […]
Read MorePRODUCER PRICES RISE 8.3% IN LAST YEAR
Key Points: The Producer Price Index increased 0.7% in August from July. The index rose 8.3% for the 12 months ended in August, the largest advance on record dating back to 2010. Final demand prices moved up 1.0% in July, the same as in June. Leading the August increase in the index for final demand, […]
Read MoreMILLIONS STILL UNEMPLOYED DESPITE RECORD JOB OPENINGS
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May continues to outnumber Americans looking for work. Job openings reached 10.9 million in July but there were 8.4 million people unemployed in August. The U.S. added 235,000 jobs in August but there were 5.7 million fewer jobs than there were in February 2020. July’s 10.9 million […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDS 235,000 JOBS IN AUGUST, MISSING EXPECTATIONS
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 235,000 in August as the unemployment rate fell 0.2% to 5.2%. Consensus among economists was a gain of 720,000 jobs. This is the seventh month of job gains after payrolls fell steeply in December. Nonfarm employment is down by 5.7 Million from pre-pandemic levels in February 2020. […]
Read MoreU.S. HOME PRICES HIT RECORD HIGH IN JUNE
Key Points: U.S. home prices rose to record highs in June. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 18.6% in the year that ended in June. The 20-City Composite posted a 19.1% year-over-year gain, up from 17.1% in the previous month. […]
Read MoreCONSUMER CONFIDENCE FALLS TO LOWEST LEVEL SINCE FEBRUARY
Key Points: Consumer confidence fell 11.3 points in August to 113.8, the lowest since February 2021. Consumer confidence also fell in July and was revised downward to 125.1. The Present Situation Index, based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions, fell to 147.3 from 157.2 last month. The Expectations Index, based on […]
Read MoreU.S. CONSUMER SPENDING AND INCOME ROSE IN JULY
Key Points: U.S. consumer spending rose by 0.3% in July, matching economists’ expectations. Personal income increased by 1.1%, or by $225.9 Billion, in July. The overall personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.4% in July and is up 4.2% from a year prior. The core personal consumption expenditures price index, which excludes food and energy, […]
Read MoreU.S. EXPANSION SLOWED IN AUGUST
Key Points: U.S. factories and service providers reported sharply slower growth in August, according to IHS Markit in its surveys of purchasing managers. The Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) captures business conditions in the manufacturing and service sectors. A reading above 50 suggests the economy is growing. Composite PMI fell to 55.4, down from 59.9 […]
Read MoreUNEMPLOYMENT FALLS IN 17 STATES AND DC IN JULY
Key Points: Unemployment rates fell in 17 states and the District of Columbia and remained stable in 33 states in July. The U.S. unemployment rate fell by 0.5% over the month to 5.4%, and is 4.8% lower than June 2020. 13 states and the District of Columbia have unemployment rates above the U.S. average. Nebraska […]
Read MoreRETAIL SALES FALL BY 1.1% IN JULY
Key Points: Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, fell by 1.1% in July over the month. Consensus among economists was a 0.3% decline. Excluding autos, retail sales fell by 0.4% over the month. June’s retail sales were revised from a 0.6% gain to a 0.7% gain. The Right Facts will […]
Read MoreBIDEN ADMINS’ “FIRST” IN JOB GROWTH CLAIM EASILY DISPROVEN
The Claim On August 6, @POTUS tweeted “We’re now the first administration in history to add jobs every month of our first six months in office.” The Facts The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides monthly payroll data dating back to 1953. The data show 5 previous administrations started with 6 months of consecutive job growth […]
Read MoreCONSUMER SENTIMENT FALLS 13.5% FROM JULY
Key Points: Consumers reported a stunning loss of confidence in the first half of August. The Consumer Sentiment Index fell by 13.5% from July, to a level that was just below the April 2020 low of 71.8. This was well below consensus of an 81.2 reading and the 7th highest drop in the last 50 […]
Read MoreCONSUMER PRICES UP 0.5% IN JULY, 5.4% IN LAST YEAR
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Read MoreMILLIONS UNEMPLOYED DESPITE RECORD JOB OPENINGS
Key Points: The number of available jobs since May has outnumbered Americans looking for work. Job openings reached 10.1 million in June but there were 8.7 million people unemployed in July. The U.S. added 943,000 jobs in July but there were 5.7 million fewer jobs than there were in February 2020. June’s 10.1 million job […]
Read MoreU.S. ADDS 943,000 JOBS IN JULY, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FALLS TO 5.4%
Key Points: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 943,000 in July as the unemployment rate fell 0.5% to 5.4%. This is the sixth month of job gains after payrolls fell steeply in December. Nonfarm employment is down by 5.7 Million from pre-pandemic levels in February 2020. Employment in leisure and hospitality increased by 343,000, as […]
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