U.S. consumer confidence shows solid gain in January
The increase, which followed a more moderate advance in December, reflected a more positive assessment of the current job market and increased optimism about future job prospects.
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Survey of business economists finds slight rise in optimism
The latest survey by the National Association for Business Economics released Monday found economists are slightly more optimistic about economic growth than they were three months ago, and most foresee sales at their companies remaining solid.
Climate not considered top-10 risk in survey of CEOs
In its annual report ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, financial services group PwC said climate change and environmental issues are ranked by chief executives as the 11th biggest threat to their companies’ growth prospects.
U.S. adds 145,000 jobs; unemployment holds at 3.5%
A bright spot was the U-6, or underemployment rate, which fell to 6.7 percent, according to Bloomberg News. This level was lower than at any point since at least 1994.
U.S. consumer comfort rises to 19-year high on views of economy
Confidence among Americans surged to the best level since October 2000 on brighter views of the economy and finances, adding to signs that consumers will continue to underpin a record-long expansion.
Slump in aircraft production brings down orders for durable goods
Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods fell by the largest amount in six months in November, led by a large decrease in orders for defense aircraft and parts. But a closely watched category that tracks business investment ticked up 0.1%.
U.S. consumer spending surged 0.4% in November, best since July
Americans increased their spending in November at the fastest pace in four months, and income growth rebounded to its strongest gain since August.
Employers post more job openings in sign of solid economy
The Labor Department said Tuesday that the number of available positions rose 3.3% in October, to nearly 7.3 million. That suggests that businesses remain confident enough in the economic outlook to create more jobs.
Fed likely to reinforce message of continued low rates
Persistently low inflation and steady if sluggish economic growth have led many Fed officials to rethink their view of the so-called “neutral rate.” This is the point at which the Fed’s key rate is believed to neither accelerate economic growth nor restrain it.
U.S. gains whopping 266,000 jobs; unemployment rate hits 50-year low
In Friday’s hiring data, besides reporting the healthy November gain, the government revised up its estimate of job growth for September and October by a combined 41,000.
Merry Clickmas: Black Friday online sales hit record $7.4B
In-store sales slipped, but sales by people who bought things online and then headed to the store to pick them up surged 43.2% on Black Friday, according to Adobe Analytics.
Third-quarter GDP revised upward on higher-than-estimated biz spending
The July-September growth rate in the gross domestic product, the economy’s total output of goods and services, exceeded the Commerce Department’s initial estimate of a 1.9% annual rate.
Powell: Solid economy with tame inflation allows low rates
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Monday sketched an optimistic view of the economy but signaled that continued low inflation means higher interest rates won’t likely be necessary anytime soon. Powell said that even with unemployment near a 50-year low of 3.6%, there’s still “plenty of room” for wages to rise and for more Americans […]
Expert: Economy inching closer to downturn as workforce constrains growth
Jeff Korzenik, chief investment officer for Fifth Third Bank, told the audience at IBJ’s 2020 Economic Forecast that employers need to investigate nontraditional sources of workers to offset the weak labor market.
Fed’s Powell sees steady growth, signals pause in rate cuts
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell expressed optimism about the prospects for the U.S. economy and said he expects it will grow at a solid pace, though it still faces risks from slower growth overseas and trade tensions.
U.S. consumer sentiment improves for third straight month
The longest streak of sentiment gains in two years is the latest sign that low unemployment, record stock prices and Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts are brightening the outlook for consumers.
U.S. posts better-than-expected October jobs numbers despite GM strike
U.S. employers added a solid 128,000 jobs in October, a figure that was held down by a now-settled strike against General Motors that caused several thousand workers to be temporarily counted as unemployed.
U.S. economy slowed to better-than-expected 1.9 percent in third quarter
Economists had been forecasting a much bigger slowdown with fears that gross domestic product could slump to 1.4% or less given a number of headwinds.
Brexit deal has been reached, say E.U., U.K. leaders
Negotiators working through the night in Brussels came to an agreement Thursday morning after Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed on despite lingering questions about warring Brexit factions in London. The agreement would still need approval by European leaders and the British Parliament.
U.S. consumer borrowing shows $17.9B August increase
Consumer borrowing increased at a solid pace in August, helped by the biggest jump in auto and student loans in three years.