Tag Archives: finance

Retail Sales Falter–What May Follow?

Posted on June 18, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs American consumers are tiring after two years of no relief from higher prices and interest rates. They are now looking for bargains everywhere in the latest retail sales report from the Census Bureau. It’s the second month of … Continue reading →

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No More Inflation?

Posted on June 13, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly It will probably be hard to believe for those scarred by the post-pandemic inflation scare that inflation isn’t declining, but there was no inflation increase in May for both wholesale (PPI) and retail (CPI) inflation indexes. Yes, … Continue reading →

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Fed’s Preferred Inflation Indicator Softens

Posted on June 5, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly The latest economic data show the US economy slowed in Q1 2024, but economic growth should increase in the second quarter because consumers will continue to spend. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), the best measure of overall consumer … Continue reading →

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Where’s the Recession?

Posted on May 29, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The most recent Harris-Guardian poll found 56 percent of those surveyed thought the US was in a recession. And 49 percent believed unemployment was at a 50-year high. How is that possible when the economic facts are exactly … Continue reading →

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Q2 Economic Growth Any Better?

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The initial estimate of first quarter 2024 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was less than expected (1.6%), causing financial markets to panic, even though economic growth is better than the initial estimate is reporting, I said last … Continue reading →

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Retail Sales Decline Worrying

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The bad news might be good news, though it presages further grief for some consumers. Retail sales didn’t increase at all in April, and the Consumers Price Index showed lower inflation, with its annual rate dropping to 3.4 … Continue reading →

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Why the Inflation Confusion?

Posted on May 14, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Most pundits (and propagandists) don’t know who to blame for ‘sticky’ inflation, so they blame those who haven’t caused it—such as the current administration or the Federal Reserve. But the sudden rise in prices of the past … Continue reading →

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Less Need to Worry in 2024?

Posted on May 9, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs It’s time to catch our breath. Wars and protests can unsettle economies, but much of the economic uncertainty in 2024 is for more mundane reasons. The last few weeks have unsettled the financial markets, to say the least. … Continue reading →

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What Should Fed Do–Part II?

Posted on May 3, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Friday’s ‘official’ April US unemployment report was even more surprising than Fed Chairman Powell’s dovish remarks after the Fed’s May FOMC meeting, as if Powell might have known that April’s unemployment report would be weaker. It was, … Continue reading →

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What Should the Fed Do?

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly The big surprise at Federal Reserve Chairman Powell’s last press conference was despite strong job numbers and inflation still above the Fed’s 2 percent target rate, the Fed governors are acting more dovish. Why? They don’t want … Continue reading →

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