Well, gosh, here we are again. This last quarter started on a somewhat positive note with stocks rising until the middle of August. That cheer didn’t last however as uncertainties about rising interest rates and the direction of the economy pushed us back to a bit lower than where we started. Bonds followed a similar […]

Economic Update Oct 3, 2022 Economic data included no revisions in the still-negative Q2 U.S. GDP report. Durable goods fell back, as did home prices in several national indexes. Consumer confidence measures were mixed, while jobless claims improved. Global equity markets fell back again, as investor moods were dampened by continued corporate negativity and higher […]

Economic Update Sept 27, 2022 The U.S. Federal Reserve raised rates again to the degree expected, in efforts to combat inflation. Economic results for the week included mixed housing data, with sharply higher starts coupled with weaker homebuilder sentiment. The index of leading economic indicators continued to fall, reaching an important recession warning signal. Global […]

Economic Update Sept 12, 2022 On a holiday-shortened week, economic data for the week included the ISM services index strengthening, and mixed results for jobless claims. Global equity markets gained last week, as central bank actions and member comments solidified a commitment to fighting inflation without overly damaging the global economy, in addition to inflation […]

Economic Update August 30, 2022 Economic data for the week included a slight upward revision in Q2 GDP, good results from consumer sentiment and jobless claims, little change in durable goods orders, while housing data continued to show weakness. Equity markets fell back in the U.S. and developed foreign markets, while emerging markets fared positively. […]

Economic Update August 22, 2022 Economic data for the week included strength in industrial production, little change in retail sales, and mixed results from several regional manufacturing surveys. Housing data also continued a string of weak monthly reports. Stock markets fell back globally, with U.S. equities faring a bit better than Europe and Asia, and […]

Economic Update August 15, 2022 Economic data for the week included consumer price inflation coming in little changed on the headline side, while producer price inflation declined on a headline level. Consumer sentiment improved more than expected. Global equity markets rose sharply last week, as slowed inflation results led to positive sentiment. Bonds fared positively, […]

Economic Update July 25, 2022 Economic data for the week included weakness in housing markets—seen in disappointing results for existing home sales, housing starts, and homebuilder sentiment. The index of leading indicators continued a string of monthly declines, and jobless claims rose. Global equities experienced gains again last week, with foreign markets leading U.S. Bonds […]

Economic Update July 19, 2022 Economic data for the week included both producer and consumer inflation coming in higher than expectations, and continuing the string of multi-decade highs, which have weighed on business and consumer sentiment. Jobless claims also ticked up again, off of cyclical lows. Retail sales also came in stronger than expected, as […]

Economic Update July 11, 2022 On a holiday-shortened week, economic data included deceleration in some economic indicators, but not to the point of a feared slowdown as of yet. These included weaker, but still-strong showings from ISM services and JOLTs job openings, as well as a decent June employment report. U.S. equity markets gained ground […]