Want Jobs? Focus on Optimism
Small business confidence is the key leading indicator for job growth, says ABA Chief Economist James Chessen.
Browsing: Economy
Mortgage Rates Take Downward Turn
The rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4 percent this week, down from last week’s 4.04 percent, Freddie Mac said today. At this time last year, the 30-year FRM rate averaged 4.17 percent.
CPI Increases on Higher Energy Prices
The Consumer Price Index increased 0.4% in May on a seasonally adjusted basis, led by sharp increases in prices for gasoline. Prices are unchanged from one year ago, a slight improvement from the 0.1% decline reported last month.
Fed Holds Steady
Though the Committee noted that economic activity has expanded moderately after the first quarter, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee in its June meeting reaffirmed its view that the current 0% to 0.25% target range for the federal funds rate remains appropriate.
Housing Starts Fall in May after Strong Gains in April
Housing starts in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.036 million, 11.1 percent below the revised April estimate of 1.165 million, but 5.1 percent above the May 2014 estimate of 986,000.
Homebuilder Confidence Reached Yearly High in June
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) rose 5 points to a level of 59 in June, the highest reading since September.
Industrial Production Declines Again in May
Industrial production decreased 0.2 percent in May—the sixth consecutive month without a gain in the index. April’s reading was revised downward to 0.5 percent, but the rates for previous months were revised higher.
Producer Prices Post Largest Gain Since 2012
Producer prices rebounded in May, climbing 0.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, attributable to prices for final demand goods which rose 1.3 percent. This was the second monthly increase in the past six months. Producer prices fell 1.1 percent on a yearly basis.
Household Net Worth Rises by $1.6 Trillion, Savings Rate Jumps to 5.5 Percent
Household net worth increased by $1.6 trillion during the first quarter of 2015 to $84.9 trillion, a 2 percent increase over the fourth quarter and a 5.7 percent increase from a year ago.
Retail Sales Climb in May
There were $444.9 billion of retail and food services sales in May (after adjustment for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences but not for price changes), according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This level represented an increase of 1.2 percent from the previous month, and 2.7 percent from May of last year.