US Outlook Report: Fragile or Not Fragile? That is the Question This week’s data were a mosaic of strong and sluggish economic indicators, still signaling some lingering weaknesses in the economy. On one hand, we have improving optimism coming from small business, robust industrial production growth, and greater-than-expected job openings and labor turnover (JOLTs) reported […]
Continue ReadingEconomics Group: Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary U.S. Review Economic Acceleration But Restraint Persists The economy continues to show signs of acceleration this week, with the ISM Manufacturing Index jumping to its highest level since December 2005. Factory orders rebounded in June, confirming recent reports of a stronger manufacturing sector. The report suggests that business spending […]
Continue ReadingU.S. Outlook Report: Unclogging The Credit Channel Ever since the financial crisis hit in 2007, the U.S. bank credit channel has been clogged. Endemic weak demand for credit and tightened lending standards have been contributing to lackluster economic growth. The most recent results from the Fed’s Senior Loan Officer Survey for Q3 suggest the era […]
Continue ReadingAugust 2014 CA Exports Slow California exporters delivered another strong performance in June although the recent strengthening of the U.S. dollar and sluggish economic growth in several key foreign markets have constrained the state’s export trade industry… Read Full Analysis Now SHARE: Meet Our Experts Christopher Thornberg Christopher Thornberg is widely credited as being one […]
Continue ReadingEconomics Group: Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary U.S. Review Growth Returns to a Solid Footing The economy expanded at a 4 percent pace in the second quarter of the year, with broad-based growth across every major sector with the exception of net exports. Revisions to prior quarters also showed that the economy was a bit stronger […]
Continue ReadingWe got an exciting second-quarter GDP report this week. The nation’s most important economic indicator, the real GDP, grew at an annualized rate of 4.0 percent, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, rebounding from a 2.1 percent decline in the first quarter. The first-quarter GDP reading was revised up from negative 2.9 percent reported […]
Continue ReadingInstant Analysis of Today’s Employment Report for July Job Market Simmers in July; +209K vs. Consensus Exp. +230K July Jobs Report Somewhat Weaker Than Expected May and June Job Numbers Revised Up a Net +15K Unemployment Rate Increases to 6.2% as Labor Force Participation Rate Rises to 62.9% Goods Sector Employment Accelerates; Private Services Job […]
Continue ReadingNew Publications from the Bay Area Council Economic Institute The Bay Area Council Economic Institute is pleased to announce the availability of four new reports on regional economic issues. In the Fast Lane: Improving Reliability, Stabilizing Local Funding, and Enabling the Transportation Systems of the Future in Alameda County analyzes Alameda County’s transportation system and […]
Continue ReadingEconomics Group: Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary U.S. Review Inflation Rising, Housing Not so Much Despite the acceleration in consumer prices, the Fed is unlikely to change its current course for a rate hike in the middle of next year. The housing recovery remains slow. Existing home sales perked up in June, while new home sales […]
Continue ReadingU.S. Outlook Report: Don’t Get Complacent About the Deficit The volume of political dialogue surrounding the U.S. budget deficit and debt has dropped a few notches with the economy strengthening, tax revenues on the rise, and the tax ceiling suspended until March 15, 2015. Federal deficits have declined for five consecutive years, from a 2009 peak […]
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