The Fed followed through with its widely telegraphed plan to start raising the target rate for the Federal Funds Rate. The target was increased by a quarter of a point, as expected, but the Fed indicated that six more quarter-point rate increases will likely follow before year-end, and that was more than expected. Rate projections … Continued

COVID-19 cases continue to fall and are back to July levels. Even with cases down, consumer sentiment, according to the University of Michigan, declined again in the initial March reading as consumers are impacted by rising gas prices and unsettled by the conflict in Ukraine. Inflation picked up again in February to record the highest … Continued

The February employment report was stronger than expected as job creation accelerated to 678,000 jobs compared to 481,000 created in January, and prior months were revised up. Labor force participation grew to the highest level for the pandemic, and the unemployment rate fell to the lowest level for the pandemic. Jobless claims are falling, and … Continued

Economic growth recovered in the fourth quarter, as real GDP growth accelerated to 7%, which was the strongest reading for the year, following the disruption from the delta wave of COVID-19 in the third quarter last year. This year started slower with the omicron wave, but activity is now recovering again as COVID cases are … Continued

COVID-19 cases driven by the omicron variant surged to record levels in January but have been declining rapidly for more than four weeks. They are now down 85% from the peak. COVID, inflation, the weather and stock market volatility have weighed on consumer sentiment so far in 2022, but none of that kept consumers from … Continued

COVID-19 cases continue to fall rapidly. Daily cases numbers are back to late December levels. Even with cases down, consumer sentiment, according to the University of Michigan, declined again in the initial February reading. Inflation picked up again in January to record the highest level of year-over-year inflation in 40 years. Wholesale used-car prices did … Continued

The January employment picture was much brighter than expected, as the omicron wave of COVID-19 failed to make a major dent in the tight job market. Job creation, wage growth and workforce participation gained as jobless claims fell. New-vehicle sales were down 10% in January. The seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of sales improved to … Continued

Economic growth recovered in the fourth quarter, as real GDP growth accelerated to 6.9%, which was the strongest reading for the year. The increase was assisted by large gains in inventories as the worst of the supply chain problems likely was at the end of the third quarter of 2021. However, consumer spending growth ended … Continued

The Fed is moving to tighten U.S. monetary policy in 2022. At its first Fed meeting of the year, the Fed announced that it will soon be appropriate to raise the target rate for the Federal Funds Rate.  The Fed’s language was an indication that rate increases could begin in March, which is when the next … Continued

COVID-19 cases, driven by the omicron variant, surged to record levels in January but peaked last week and started to decline. COVID-19, inflation, wintery weather and stock market volatility have weighed on consumer sentiment, but it too began to improve by the end of last week. New jobless claims increased again due to omicron. New … Continued