Tag Archives: consumer spending

Consumer Spending Down, Recession Looms?

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Wow! First-quarter GDP was paltry enough at 0.7 percent but consumer spending was even more paltry, at only 0.3 percent for the most embarrassing annualized pace since 2009. Unemployment is unusually low and consumer confidence unusually high … Continue reading →

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Slow Q1 GDP Growth Means What?

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 0.7 percent in the first quarter of 2017, according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2016, real … Continue reading →

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2017 Manufacturing Off To Good Start

Posted on March 2, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly What is happening with manufacturing? The ISM manufacturing index jumped 1.7 points in February to a 57.7 level that beats the consensus by 1.3 points. This is the strongest rate of monthly growth in composite activity since … Continue reading →

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Slower Q4 Growth, (But) Higher Consumer Confidence

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The growth in the U.S. economy in the final quarter of Barack Obama’s presidency was left at 1.9 percent, held down by a bigger trade deficit even as consumer spending rebounded strongly. In fact, Q4 GDP growth slowed … Continue reading →

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Retail Sales and Consumer Prices Show Real Life

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Retail sales rose 0.4 percent last month following a much bigger gain in December than originally reported, the government said Wednesday. Economists polled had forecast a 0.2 percent increase. Retail sales are now up more than 5 percent … Continue reading →

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Private Payrolls, Consumer Confidence Signal Strong January

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly ADP is calling for substantial strength in Friday’s employment report, showing yesterday 246,000 for private payrolls, not including government jobs. This is far beyond expectations and would compare with December private payroll growth in the government’s report … Continue reading →

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Q4 GDP Slightly Lower—How About 2017?

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Fourth quarter Gross Domestic Product growth slowed, mostly because of the strong dollar and weak foreign demand. But consumers held up their end with higher consumer sentiments, and businesses also began to invest in new plants and equipment … Continue reading →

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Has Inflation Returned?

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Inflation is here! says Econoday, per last week’s CPI report; at 2.1 percent for total consumer prices (columns in graph) and 2.2 percent for the core rate (red line). Two percent is generally considered the target rate for … Continue reading →

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Boom Times In 2017 For Consumers?

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Here are more signs that economic growth will increase in 2017. There’s a large increase in revolving credit, one of the largest of the cycle, reports the Federal Reserve, a sign that retail sales are booming (with … Continue reading →

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Why Are Consumers Happier?

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Why are consumers much happier during these holidays? The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index for November jumped 6.6 points to a six-month high while the Conference Board’s consumer confidence index jumped 6.3 points to 107.1 for its … Continue reading →

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