Tag Archives: Federal Reserve

Retail Sales and Consumer Prices Show Real Life

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

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Janet Yellen and The Fed’s Rate Hike(s)

The Mortgage Corner The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised a key U.S. interest rate for the first time in a year and signaled a more aggressive approach in 2017, when incoming president Donald Trump plans a so-called ‘full-throttle’ strategy to … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, housing market, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

4.6% Unemployment–178,000 Payroll Jobs in November

Popular Economics Weekly Nonfarm payrolls rose 178,000 in November to just beat out expectations with revisions no factor, says Econoday. A sharp downward revision to October, now at 142,000, was offset by a nearly as sharp upward revision to September, … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, housing market, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GDP Growth, Consumer Confidence Soar

Financial FAQs The economy grew at the fastest pace in over two years in the third quarter, as consumers, business investment and government increased spending. Gross domestic product expanded at a 3.2 percent annual rate in the Commerce Department’s second … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Macro Economics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Record Retail Sales, Higher Growth Ahead?

Financial FAQs It looks like Q4 GDP could be higher than the Third Quarter’s initial estimate of 2.9 percent growth. That’s because retail sales and wholesale inventories, both major contributors to growth, are surging. Retail sales jumped 0.8 percent in … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What, Now A Trump Recession?

Popular Economics Weekly Economists are already warning that if President-elect Trump’s policies are enacted, such as initiating trade wars, or the wrong tax cuts, or even cutting back on social security and Medicare benefits, we could see another recession, similar … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Politics, Uncategorized, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Full Employment Reached—161,000 Payroll Jobs

Popular Economics Weekly Average hourly earnings are up 2.8 percent annually, a recovery high. Nonfarm payroll growth was up 161,000 with upward revisions adding a net total 44,000 to September (191,000) and August (156,000). The unemployment rate is down 1 … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Macro Economics, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Q3 GDP Growth Fastest In 2 Years

Financial FAQs Third quarter GDP growth was the fastest in two years, aided by a spike in soybean and other U.S. exports and a rebound in the size of inventories companies keep on hand for sale, reports the U.S. Bureau … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Jobs Report—Not Yet Full Employment

Popular Economics Weekly The unemployment rate rose slightly to 5 percent for the first time since April, the government said Friday, though that was mainly because 444,000 people entered the labor force. There are still too many unemployed, in other … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Politics, Uncategorized, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Poverty Level Down, As Household Incomes Surge

Popular Economics Weekly Fewer Americans lived in poverty in 2015 and median incomes charted their first increase since the Great Recession, according to data released Tuesday by the Census Department. The official poverty rate fell 1.2 percentage points between 2014 … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Macro Economics, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment