Atlas has noticed a pattern in recent economic data. Our economy’s growth rate pushed through the 3.0 percent level (adjusted for inflation) during the middle quarters of last year; since then, the indicators have not been as strong. Slower might best describe the recent developments.
Retail sales suffered a setback to start 2018 per the latest data from the Census Bureau. The headline tally declined 0.3 percent, but it gets worse. December’s figures were downwardly revised to unchanged after an initial reading of 0.4 percent which should push the nation’s fourth-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) count lower when its revision is released later this
Hints of inflation are wafting through the economy per data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their widely-watched Consumer Price Index (CPI) jumped 0.5 percent to start this year. January’s year-over-year statistic posted 2.1 percent, matching December’s tally. Core-CPI (excluding food and energy) managed an uptick of 0.3 percent to start 2018, and its year-ove
America’s budget ran a surplus in January 2018 according to the Treasury Department. Partially boosted by calendar influenced special factors, the nation took in $49.2 billion more than it spent to start the year. Since the first day of the year is a holiday, outlays for military active duty and retirement, Veteran’s benefits, and Supplemental Security Income were paid i
Global economic synchronicity continues according to the latest trade balance data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Both sides of the ledger increased during December 2017. America exported $3.5 billion more goods and services for a total of $203.4 billion. Meanwhile, our nation imported $256.5 billion, an uptick of $6.2 billion. As you might have figured, this led to a
Atlas' Monday note covered the most recent employment report. If you did not have a chance to see it or want to reference it, click here. One of the more positive developments to come out of the report was an increase in average hourly earnings. This is an important statistic because it sug
Americans continued feeling chuffed in January 2018 according to two popular measures of consumer attitudes. Consumer Confidence from the Conference Board jumped to 125.4 after the upwardly revised tally of 123.1 (originally 122.1). However, there was a small letdown in the Consumer Sentiment figure from the University of Michigan which moved down a touch, falling to 95.7 from 95.9
America’s economy decelerated in the final three months of 2017 according to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). On an inflation-adjusted annualized basis, output grew by 2.6 percent from October through December. This followed improvements of 3.1 percent and 3.5 percent in the second and third quarters respectively. Despite the
Personal income and spending each improved to end 2017, but their rates of change were different. Americans’ pay managed to grow just 0.3 percent while outlays increased 0.5 percent. Additionally, there was a key revision to the prior period’s tally as outlays actually increased 0.8 percent (originally 0.6 percent), but November’s income tally remained as initially
America’s economy continued adding jobs in January according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s report on the employment situation. Employers added 200,000 net new jobs in the period. Additionally, December’s tally was upwardly revised to 160,000 (originally 148,000), but November’s tally was downwardly revised to 216,000 (originally 252,000). Including
Many comparisons between the U.S. and Chinese economy have been made lately both in the press and by numerous talking heads. At our most recent Pie Party this topic came up for discussion. Caught by surprise, J R (incredibly!) turned to technology for an answer. He brought up the Big Mac Index.
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