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☆ Americans are savings less these days. Here’s why and what that means
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —Americans haven’t been stashing money into their savings accounts like they used to, according to government statistics. Put together, this may have resulted in “a structurally lower saving rate,” according to the report. What does the lower saving rate of nowadays say about the US consumer? Households are continuing to spend at these elevated rates and one reason is because of the lower saving rate. You’re just not seeing a reversal back to pre-Covid levels, which isn’t shocking when you look back historically to what has happened to the saving rate.

Persons: haven’t, “, Wells, Bell, Shannon Seery Grein, There’s, they’ve, we’ve, Matt Egan, ” Paul Knopp, Read, Goldman Sachs, Charles Schwab, Lorie Logan, Mary Daly, Johnson, Morgan Stanley, Jerome Powell, Loretta Mester, John Williams, Raphael Bostic, Austan Goolsbee Organizations: Washington CNN, Wells, KPMG, CNN, Gallup, T Bank, US Commerce Department, National Association of Home Builders, China’s National Bureau of Statistics, Johnson, Bank of America, PNC, The Bank of New York Mellon, Northern Trust, United Airlines, Federal Reserve, Abbott Laboratories, Discover, Citizens, Cleveland Fed, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Netflix, Alaska Air, National Association of Realtors, Fed, US Labor Department, Procter & Gamble, American Express . Chicago Fed Locations: Wells Fargo, United States, Europe, UnitedHealth, Blackstone

☆ Surging inflation fears sent markets tumbling and Fed officials scrambling
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Energy prices, which have been a major factor in the past two months' inflation readings, pushed higher on signs of further geopolitical turmoil. Minutes released Wednesday from the March Fed meeting showed officials were concerned about higher inflation and looking for more convincing evidence it is on a steady path lower. Sticky price CPI entails items such as housing, motor vehicle insurance and medical care services, while flexible price is concentrated in food, energy and vehicle prices. "If that's the case, you would require a decent amount of unemployment to get inflation all the way to 2.0%." That's why Furman and others have pushed for the Fed to rethink it's determined commitment to 2% inflation.

Persons: Spencer Platt, —, Stocks, Jason Furman, We've, Israel, Jim Paulsen, Wells, Substack, Paulsen, Furman, Barack Obama, Jamie Dimon, John Williams, Susan Collins, it's, Larry Fink Organizations: Getty, Investors, Dow Jones, CNBC, of Economic Advisers, New York Fed, National Federation of Independent Business, Labor Department, JPMorgan, University of Michigan's, Boston, Commerce, CPI, Citigroup, Fed, Atlanta Fed, Dallas Fed, Harvard, BlackRock Locations: Manhattan, New York City, Iran, Israel

☆ European markets set to open higher; UK GDP grows 0.1% in February
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 31 points higher at 7,949, Germany's DAX up more than 100 points at 18,051, France's CAC 47 points higher at 8,064 and Italy's FTSE MIB 150 points higher at 33,212, according to data from IG. European markets are set to open higher on Friday morning as investors parse through U.K. economic data and reflect on a somewhat murky U.S. inflation outlook. The market moves come after the pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed lower in the previous session. Stateside, investors digested fresh inflation data in search of clues on exactly when the U.S. central bank may start cutting interest rates. In Europe, Britain's economic output increased by 0.1% in monthly terms in February, in line with expectations, according to figures published Friday by the Office for National Statistics.

Persons: Germany's DAX, Dow Jones Organizations: CAC, IG, European Central Bank, U.S, U.S . Federal, Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, Dow, Office, National Statistics Locations: U.S ., U.S, Europe

☆ Wholesale prices rose 0.2% in March, less than expected
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A measure of wholesale prices increased less than expected in March, providing some potential relief from worries that inflation will hold higher for longer than many economists had expected. Excluding food and energy, the core PPI also rose 0.2%, meeting expectations. The release comes a day after the BLS reported that consumer prices again rose more than expected in March, raising concerns that the Federal Reserve will be unable to lower interest rates anytime soon. However, wholesale prices for final demand food and goods less food and energy climbed 0.8% and 0.1%, respectively. That contrasted with the consumer price index, which showed gasoline up 1.7% on the month.

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: Dow, Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, PPI, BLS, Federal Reserve, Labor Department, Group

☆ Goldman still expects U.S. inflation to fall significantly as markets alarmed by recent rise
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Goldman Sachs still expects stubbornly high U.S. inflation to ease over the coming months, despite investors slashing bets for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, after yet another print showed that consumer prices remain sticky. The CPI, a broad measure of goods and services costs across the economy, rose 0.4% for the month, putting the 12-month inflation rate at 3.5%. In the Goldman Sachs view, the U.S. CPI will fall back to 2.4% this year, down from the current annualized rate of 3.5%. We obviously have oil prices currently going up, and that's certainly something that has been a bit stronger than what we initially anticipated," Mueller-Glissmann said. He added that the inflationary impact of rising oil prices will likely be limited, because the bank expects that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will eventually bring spare capacity online.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Christian Mueller, Glissmann, CNBC's, Mueller Organizations: Federal Reserve, Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S, CPI, of, Petroleum Locations: U.S, penciling

☆ Here’s the inflation breakdown for March 2024 — in one chart
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"The big rock in the way here is the cost of shelter," Zandi said. In fact, underlying inflation after stripping out shelter costs is already back to target, Zandi said. watch nowThe increase is largely attributable to higher oil prices. "For most Americans, the thing that bothers them the most about inflation is high food prices." Americans' buying patterns also simultaneously shifted away from services — like entertainment and travel — toward physical goods since they stayed at home more, driving up demand and fueling decades-high goods inflation.

Persons: Eric Thayer, That's, Mark Zandi, Zandi, It's, Hamrick, They're, Sarah House Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, U.S . Labor Department, Moody's, of Labor Statistics, U.S, Energy Information Administration, BLS, Wells, Wells Fargo Economics Locations: U.S, Wells Fargo

☆ Hot inflation data pushes market’s rate cut expectations to September
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Three months of inflation data have brought those expectations back down to earth. "Not that you've put a pin in inflation getting to the Fed's target, but it's not happening imminently." The 2-year Treasury note , which is especially sensitive to Fed rate moves, jumped to 4.93%, an increase of nearly 0.2 percentage point. The pricing in of seven rate cuts earlier this year was completely at odds with indications from Fed officials. However, when policymakers in December raised their "dot plot" indicator to three rate cuts from two projected in September, it set off a Wall Street frenzy.

Persons: Michael M, Liz Ann Sonders, Charles Schwab, you've, There's, Today's, Phillip Neuhart, Joseph LaVorgna, Schwab's Sonders, Sonders Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Santiago, Getty, Federal, Labor, CPI, Fed, Traders, First, Bank Wealth, Dow Jones, Treasury, Nikko Securities, Atlanta Fed Locations: New York City

☆ Consumer prices rose 3.5% from a year ago in March, more than expected
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty ImagesThe consumer price index accelerated at a faster than expected pace in March, pushing inflation higher and likely keeping the Federal Reserve on hold with interest rates. Shelter and energy costs drove the increase on the all-items index. Food prices increased just 0.1% on the month and were up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. The measure for meat, fish, poultry and eggs climbed 0.9%, pushed by a 4.6% jump in egg prices. Elsewhere, used vehicle prices declined 1.1% and medical care services prices rose 0.6%.

Persons: Tom Williams, Dow Jones Organizations: Washington , D.C, Cq, Inc, Getty, Federal Reserve, Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI Locations: Washington ,

☆ Remote work has been a mixed bag for women when it comes to pay. But it's helped some men be 'overemployed' and make six figures.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But a lot of women haven't been able to take advantage of this remote work perk. Remote work has helped women's progress toward equal pay, but it's had a mixed impact on women's career advancement. On the one hand, remote work has allowed more women to stay in the workforce when they otherwise might forced out due to childcare demands. Women's relationship with remote work both helps and hurtsWomen are working at near-record levels, and the growth of remote work in recent years is among the key reasons. AdvertisementMen and women work from home at very similar rates, but there's some evidence that remote work is even more prevalent among women.

Persons: —, haven't, it's, jugging, jugglers, Aaron Terrazas, Nicholas Bloom, Sarah Small, Small, Nicole, Stanford's Bloom, Meredith Whitney, Utah's Organizations: Service, Business, Stanford, University of Utah, of Labor Statistics, WomenTech Network, Labor Department, Bard College Locations: Washington, overemployment

☆ Wells Fargo's Chris Harvey says 'I don't feel bullish' — a day after hiking S&P year-end target to highest on Street
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Stephanie Landsman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Wells Fargo Securities' Chris Harvey hiked his S & P 500 year-end price target by about 20% this week. Harvey, who once referred to himself during a CNBC interview as " not a real positive guy ," raised his official 2024 S & P 500 target to 5,535 on Monday. That's good for growth. That's good for momentum, and it's good for large caps," Harvey added. Harvey's S & P 500 2023 year-end target was 4,420.

Persons: Chris Harvey, Harvey Organizations: Wells Fargo Securities, CNBC, Labor Department Locations: Wells Fargo

☆ Small business optimism hits 11-year low as inflation fears won't go away
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Small business confidence hit its lowest level in more than 11 years for March as proprietors worried that inflation is still very much a problem. A quarter of all respondents reported that rising costs were the biggest problem. "Small business optimism has reached the lowest level since 2012 as owners continue to manage numerous economic headwinds," NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said. "Inflation has once again been reported as the top business problem on Main Street and the labor market has only eased slightly." A quarter of all respondents cited inflation, and in particular higher input and labor costs, as their most pressing issue.

Persons: Bill Dunkelberg Organizations: Costco Wholesale, National Federation of Independent Business, The Labor Department Locations: Colchester , Vermont

☆ A crucial report Wednesday is expected to show little progress against inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Scott Olson | Getty ImagesA closely watched Labor Department report due Wednesday is expected to show that not much progress is being made in the battle to bring down inflation. To be sure, inflation has come down dramatically from its peak above 9% in June 2022. That showed headline inflation running at 2.5% and the core rate at 2.8% in February. For their part, markets have grown nervous about the state of inflation and how it will affect rate policy. "I don't see a whole lot here that is going to move things magically the way they want to go," North said.

Persons: Scott Olson, We're, Dan North, North, they've Organizations: Getty, Labor Department, Federal Reserve, Allianz Trade North America, Fed, Commerce, PCE Locations: Chicago , Illinois

☆ The market again has adjusted its view on rate cuts, with as few as two now expected
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"While investors seem to be anxiously awaiting easing monetary policy, the current environment does not quite scream 'rate cuts!'" That sentiment has manifested itself lately in market pricing. That same day, the Labor Department will release the CPI report, which is expected to show the headline inflation rate rising 3.4% in March on a year-over-year basis, per Dow Jones. This is nonetheless "the right time to cut rates," wrote David Kelly, chief global strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management. "What has underpinned this market is the promise of a series of rate cuts including March, and now it has dwindled to just a few rate cuts.

Persons: Glenmede, Dow Jones, David Kelly, Kelly, Nicholas Colas, Colas, Ed Yardeni, nonfarm, Quincy Krosby, Krosby Organizations: Federal Reserve, Investors, Labor Department, Asset Management, Fed, DataTrek, Yardeni, LPL

☆ Biden’s manufacturing industry is expanding, but that could be bad for inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But a resurgence in the industry could complicate the Federal Reserve’s ongoing inflation fight, either delaying the first interest rate cut or resulting in fewer cuts this year, some economists say. Interest rates have been at a two-decade high since July, after the Fed raised rates aggressively over the prior year and a half. The economy picking up further strength would spook Wall Street because of what it means for interest rates — and some manufacturers say they’re optimistic about the future. The Bank of Canada announces its latest interest rate decision. China’s National Bureau of Statistics releases March inflation data.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Tom Barkin, “, Mary Daly, ” Daly, Jerome Powell, Neel Kashkari, ” Kashkari, ” Richard de Chazal, Blair, they’re “, Amazon’s, It’s, Ramishah Maruf, Amazon, haven’t, Read Organizations: Washington CNN, Institute for Supply Management, Congress, Fed, ” Richmond Fed, ” San Francisco Fed, Minneapolis, Dow, Blair Equity Research, Amazon, Fresh, Delta Air Lines, US Labor Department, Index, Bank of Canada, Federal Reserve, National Bureau of Statistics, Constellation Brands, European Central Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, State, National Statistics, The University of Michigan Locations: Richmond , Virginia, ” San, Las Vegas, India, Wells Fargo, Progressive, BlackRock

Stocks rallied Friday after the latest jobs report came in piping hot. The Dow rose 307 points, or 0.8%, after climbing more than 400 points at the day's highs. Still, all three major indexes ended the week lower, starting the second quarter of the year on a sour note. While the latest jobs report supports the idea that the US economy is holding strong against interest rates at a 23-year high and could avoid a recession, it also puts into question when the Federal Reserve will begin its long-awaited rate cuts. The US economy added 303,000 jobs last month, according to data released Friday by the Labor Department.

Persons: Stocks, Mike Sanders Organizations: Dow, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Labor Department, Fed, Madison Investments

☆ Job growth zoomed in March as payrolls jumped by 303,000 and unemployment dropped to 3.8%
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Job creation in March easily topped expectations in a sign of continued acceleration for what has been a bustling and resilient labor market. The unemployment rate edged lower to 3.8%, as expected, even though the labor force participation rate moved higher to 62.7%, a gain of 0.2 percentage point from February. "This report and the February report showed some broadening in terms of job creation, which is a very good sign." Stocks have tumbled this week amid concerns that a strong labor market and resilient economy could keep the central bank on hold for longer than expected. Correction: The unemployment rate edged lower to 3.8%.

Persons: Nonfarm, Dow Jones, Lauren Goodwin, Jerome Powell Organizations: Dow, Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wall, Retail, New York Life Investments, Federal Reserve, Stock

☆ Live Updates: U.S. Job Growth Expected to Remain Robust
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Talmon Joseph Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

PinnedWith the year’s first quarter in the books, the Labor Department will release its latest update on the labor market Friday morning. Economists expect the March report to show that over 200,000 jobs were added for the fourth consecutive month, according to a Bloomberg survey. The report is expected to show that the unemployment rate ticked down to 3.8 percent from 3.9 percent in February. It’s a remarkable change from a year ago, when top financial analysts were largely convinced that a recession was only months away. Nevertheless, there is “still absolutely nothing happening” in key measures of long-run jobless claims, said Guy Berger, director of economic research at the Burning Glass Institute, which studies the labor market.

Persons: ”, Joe Davis, Guy Berger Organizations: Labor Department, Bloomberg, Federal, Vanguard, Federal Reserve, Glass Institute Locations: U.S

☆ Fed Governor Bowman says additional rate hike could be needed if inflation stays high
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Noting a number of potential upside risks to inflation, Bowman said policymakers need to be careful not to ease policy too quickly. "Reducing our policy rate too soon or too quickly could result in a rebound in inflation, requiring further future policy rate increases to return inflation to 2 percent over the longer run." The speech, to the Shadow Open Market Committee, comes with markets on edge about the near-term future of Fed policy. Weighing inflation risks, she said that supply-side improvements that helped bring numbers down this year may not have the same impact going forward. Fed officials will get their next look at inflation data Wednesday, when the Labor Department releases the March consumer price index report.

Persons: Michelle Bowman, Bowman, Jerome Powell, Raphael Bostic, Neel Kashkari Organizations: Federal, of Governors, Market, Committee, Atlanta Fed, CNBC, Minneapolis Fed, Fed, Labor Department Locations: New York

☆ Fed caution may be justified if the labor market starts to deteriorate. Here's why that could happen
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A strong jobs outlook raises the potential of greater inflation pressures, meaning the central bank might be less eager to ease policy. Indeed, there are some signs that the labor market's strength may not be as robust as the headline nonfarm payrolls numbers indicate. Economists both on Wall Street and at the Fed suspect swelling immigration numbers are playing a role in boosting employment and keeping the labor market so tight. With political clamoring intensifying for the U.S. to tighten its border controls, the resilience of the labor market then could be jeopardized depending on how large a role immigration is playing. "Another strong report raises the potential that the deterioration in labor markets we have been expecting will be avoided.

Persons: nonfarm, Seema Shah, Shah, Mohamed El, There's, Goldman Sachs, Michelle Bowman, Bowman, Andrew Hollenhorst Organizations: Federal Reserve, Labor, Asset Management, Allianz, Fed, CNBC, Wall, Congressional, Citigroup, Citi Locations: it's, Italy, U.S, South America, Central America, Mexico

☆ U.S. Employers Added 303,000 Jobs in 39th Straight Month of Growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Talmon Joseph Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Another month, another burst of better-than-expected job gains. Employers added 303,000 jobs in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Labor Department reported on Friday, and the unemployment rate fell to 3.8 percent, from 3.9 percent in February. Expectations of a recession among experts, once widespread, are now increasingly rare. It was the 39th straight month of job growth. And employment levels are now more than three million greater than forecast by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office just before the pandemic shock.

Organizations: Labor Department Locations: U.S

☆ Job gains expected again in March. Here are all the things to look for in Friday's report
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Job growth is expected to come in at 200,000 for the period, according to the Dow Jones consensus forecast. That will be just one of several key areas in focus when the report is released at 8:30 a.m. The job market's resilience has confounded many economists who spent the past two years searching for a jobs-led recession that never happened. Household employment, which counts individual workers rather than total jobs and is used to calculate the unemployment rate, has fallen by nearly 1 million since November. The survey is more volatile and uses a much smaller sample than the establishment count that yields the headline payrolls growth total.

Persons: Timothy Aeppel, nonfarm payrolls, Dow, Dan North, Goldman Sachs, Luke Tilley, Stocks Organizations: Labor Department, Allianz Trade, Wilmington Trust Locations: Oxnard , California, Wilmington

Traders work on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange on April 5, 2024. Stocks rebounded Friday following the Dow Jones Industrial Average 's worst session in more than a year as traders cheered a stronger-than-expected jobs report and looked past a jump in rates. The 30-stock Dow climbed 307.06 points, or 0.8%, to settle at 38,904.04. The Dow slid 2.27%, posting its worst weekly performance in 2024. The Dow tumbled about 530 points, or 1.35%, on Thursday, marking its biggest daily drop since March 2023 and its fourth consecutive losing session.

Persons: Stocks, Dow, Nonfarm payrolls, Dow Jones, Jamie Cox, Neel Kashkari Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Treasury, Labor, Federal Reserve, Harris Financial, Minneapolis Federal Locations: Minneapolis

☆ Private payrolls increased by 184,000 in March, better than expected, ADP says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Private sector job growth expanded in March at its fastest pace since July 2023, indicating continuing buoyance in the U.S. labor market, payrolls processing firm ADP reported Wednesday. Those switching jobs saw gains of 10%, also higher than in previous months. ADP, whose survey is based on payroll data analysis of more than 25 million workers, does not track government jobs. The ADP estimate serves as a precursor to the Labor Department's nonfarm payrolls survey, set to be released Friday, though the numbers often diverge sharply. The department's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported job growth of 275,000 in February, or 120,000 more than even ADP's revised figure.

Persons: Dow Jones, Nela Richardson Organizations: Companies, Labor, department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve Locations: U.S

☆ Steve Eisman says the Fed shouldn't cut rates, risks creating a stock market bubble if it does
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

If the Federal Reserve follows through on plans to lower interest rates it could lead to a stock market bubble, in the view of Neuberger Berman portfolio manager Steve Eisman. The central bank last month penciled in three potential quarter percentage point rate cuts by the end of 2023, along with multiple other cuts coming in future years. I personally think there should be no Fed cuts this year," he said during an interview on CNBC's " Squawk Box ." My actual fear is that if the Fed were actually to cut rates, the market becomes bubblicious and then we have a real problem. Markets in fact have grown nervous this week as hopes have waned for rate cuts.

Persons: Neuberger Berman, Steve Eisman, Jerome Powell, Eisman, Powell Organizations: Federal, Institute for Supply Management, Stanford Business, Government, Society, Labor Department, Fed

☆ Baltimore’s economy has been humming. Then a bridge collapsed
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Baltimore’s regional economy has a lot going for it such as low unemployment and low inflation. That’s well below the national rate of 3.9% in February and ranks 43rd out of 389 regions across the country with more than one million residents. Low inflationThe US economy is still dealing with high inflation, but that’s not much of a problem for the Baltimore metro. Inflation in Baltimore slowed dramatically last year from April to June, falling to a 2.8% annual rise from April’s 5.3%. Like across the country, rising energy prices have recently pushed up overall inflation in the Baltimore metro.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, Prince, it’ll, Matt Rourke, Matt Jaffe, “, ” Jaffe, that’s, That’s, ” Christina DePasquale, Johns, Freddie Mac Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Towson, Labor Department, Washington D.C, U.S, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Fed Locations: Baltimore, Port, Baltimore County, Columbia, Boston, Orlando, Atlanta, Washington, Dundalk, Md

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