Economy

The Atlanta Fed updated its nowcast model today with the ISM results we reported earlier. The numbers are big.

The latest ISM Manufacturing Index came out earlier today. The numbers were strong, and the 69.1% reading was above expectations.

Small business optimism is at a 10-year high on the eve of the latest US GDP report - another bullish indicator. Inflation is the key to how this impacts bonds longer-term.

Initial claims for unemployment insurance of 220,000 in the week ending January 13 underscore the strength of the US job market. With the 4-week moving average decreasing to 244,500, there is no sign on the horizon of disruption to jobs.

Walmarts plan to raise the minimum pay for some employees to $11 an hour is big news. I also think this is good news for Trump and the Republicans as well as for wage rates in the US.

While the month-to-month numbers were ordinary, the trend for the past few months is down.

Economic data coming out of the United States continue to show a robust consumer-led expansion. The latest consumer credit report showed the largest monthly gain since November 2001, with outstanding consumer credit rising by $27.95…

When you look at what the US has gone through over the last decade, in terms of the job market, what stands out is the total decimation of jobs during the Great Financial Crisis. But something else stands out too — and that’s demographics.

You don’t get the same level of job growth after eight years of an economic upturn as you do after one. And this is borne out by the statistics.

The investment climate is being shaped by two powerful forces.  First is the very accommodative policy stance.  In addition to the accommodative monetary policy, fiscal policy is also supportive.