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☆ 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

☆ Chair Powell says the Fed isn’t more tolerant of higher inflation. Some economists disagree
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Some economists interpreted that as a sign that the Fed is now more tolerant of higher inflation. Powell pushed back on the perception that the central bank has grown more comfortable with inflation being higher for longer than expected in his post-meeting news conference. and my sense coming out of this month’s meeting was that Fed Chair Powell wants to get this easing cycle going sooner rather than later. What’s allowing the Fed to be patient or more tolerant of higher inflation? They’re willing to essentially look through some of the bumpiness in the inflation data at the beginning of the year.

Persons: Jerome Powell, That’s, Powell, “, ” Powell, “ We’re, Mohamed El, Erian, ”, Bell, Lydia Boussour, they’re, What’s, we’ve, Nathaniel Meyersohn, Read, Levi Strauss, Tupperware Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Reserve, Financial Times, Fed, Home Depot, Home, P Global, Institute for Supply Management, Maine Foods, Dave, Buster’s Entertainment, US Labor Department, US Commerce Department, Stanford University Locations: EY, Cal

☆ Fed officials are now considering fewer rate cuts this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

That’s because some Federal Reserve officials are reconsidering forecasts they made three months ago that called for three rate cuts this year. The stakes are high because there are consequences if the Fed cuts rates soon or if it leaves rates where they’ve been for the past eight months. First rate cut hinges on inflation dataIn February, Bostic told CNN that the first rate cut could come “sometime in the summertime.” That’s also Wall Street’s current expectation. He hasn’t specified — and is unlikely to signal — the number of rate cuts he believes are appropriate for this year. He has cheered inflation’s descent and said further improvement could open the door to rate cuts — if that actually bears out.

Persons: they’ve, Raphael Bostic, ” Bostic, Bostic, That’s, Powell hasn’t, Price, Nam, ” David Page, Powell, Rather, Jerome Powell, Chip Somodevilla, Lisa Cook, Austan Goolsbee, ”, we’ve, we’re, Goolsbee, Christopher Waller Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve, Atlanta Fed, Index, AXA, Federal, ”, Harvard University, Chicago, Yahoo Finance, Fed, San Francisco Fed Locations: New York

☆ Here’s why the Fed doesn’t see a US recession in coming years
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“The economy is strong, the labor market is strong and inflation has come way down,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday. Fed officials continue to expect three rate cuts this year but the days of ultra-low interest rates are long gone. Up NextMonday: The Chicago Fed releases its National Activity Index for February. The US Commerce Department releases February data on sales of new single-family homes. The US Commerce Department releases February data on household spending, income and the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Jerome Powell, Mike Skordeles, Skordeles, ” Stephanie Lang, Homrich Berg, ”, Clare Duffy, Reddit, Read, Lisa Cook, Christopher Waller Organizations: Washington CNN, Fed, Truist Advisory Services, CNN, Atlanta Fed, Employers, New York Stock Exchange, Trading, IPOs, Chicago Fed, US Commerce Department, McCormick, GameStop, Global, Board, Wednesday, Walgreens Boots Alliance, US Labor Department, University of Michigan, National Association of Realtors

☆ Here’s why high interest rates haven’t caused a US recession
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

America’s economy remains remarkably solid, despite the high interest rates. The Fed dramatically cut interest rates in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic to help shore up an economy dealing with high unemployment, prompting mortgage rates to also drop in tandem. Those homeowners who locked in an affordable 3% mortgage rate, for instance, aren’t likely to trade it for anything higher. Fed officials reflected in their latest economic projections from December that they expect to cut interest rates three times this year, which would also lower mortgage rates. That all means that Americans have been well equipped to deal with the effects of high interest rates.

Persons: Jerome Powell, ” Powell, ” Dan North, Freddie Mac, ” Karen Manna, Federated Hermes, “, ”, Powell Organizations: DC CNN, Federal Reserve, Reserve, CBS, Allianz Trade, CNN, Fed, Employers, Consumer Finances, Federated Locations: Washington

☆ Presidential election or not, economists say, the Fed will cut interest rates in the fall if it must
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Fed officials have said they will begin to cut rates whenever they have “gained enough confidence” that inflation is under control. The Bank of Japan announces its latest interest rate decision. The Reserve Bank of Australia announces its latest interest rate decision. The Federal Reserve announces its latest interest rate decision and releases a fresh set of economic projections, followed by a news conference featuring Chair Jerome Powell. The Bank of England announces its latest interest rate decision.

Persons: Wall Street’s, “, ” Kathy Bostjancic, ”, Jerome Powell, ” Powell, Fed hasn’t, Nathaniel Beck, Elizabeth Warren of, Powell, lambasting, Donald Trump, reappoint Powell, ” Kayla Bruun, David Goldman, Anna Bahney, Cowen, Lennar, Mills Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, Washington CNN, Federal Reserve, Fed, Nationwide, CNN, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Democratic, Republican, Morning, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Realtors, Toll Brothers, National Association of Home Builders, Bank of Japan, Reserve Bank of Australia, US Commerce Department, Micron Technology, Prudential, Accenture, Nike, FedEx, lululemon, Darden, Academy Sports, Bank of England, US Labor Department, Global Locations: Washington, Wells Fargo

☆ Boeing’s problems could soon become your problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —Boeing’s problems aren’t just Boeing’s. One of America’s biggest manufacturers is dealing with some serious production, quality and safety problems that worsened this week after a 787 Dreamliner plunged suddenly mid-flight, injuring dozens of passengers. Southwest and United earlier this week said they expect Boeing to ship them fewer planes than they planned on receiving, so they’ll hire fewer pilots. (Boeing continued to build the 737 Max throughout the crisis). And Boeing’s years of problems have led to success for its French rival Airbus, which has overtaken Boeing as the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer.

Persons: Washington CNN —, aren’t, ” Kathy Bostjancic, “, ”, ” José Torres, Max, ” Lisa Simon Organizations: Washington CNN, America’s, Boeing, Airbus, Alaska Airlines, Nationwide, CNN, Interactive Brokers, New York Fed, The New, Fed, Boeing hasn’t, Federal Aviation Administration, Revelio Labs Locations: Southwest, ”

☆ Premarket stocks: Investors are on cloud nine. That could be a bad sign
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Unsurprisingly, several flashing indicators suggest that investors are feeling good about the market:• CNN’s Fear & Greed Index: The indicator, which measures seven barometers of market sentiment including the VIX, Wall Street’s most well-known measure of expected stock volatility, is in “greed” territory. Market sentiment is often seen as a contrarian indicator. That means that when the herd is optimistic, money managers take it as a sign that stocks will fall, and vice versa. A closely watched gauge of US wholesale inflation rose at its fastest pace in months, according to new data released Thursday. In February, car sales climbed 1.8%, purchases of electronics and appliances increased 1.5% and sales at restaurants rose 0.4%.

Persons: • Charles Schwab, Yardeni, “, Alicia Wallace, Price, Gus Faucher, Read, Bryan Mena Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Intelligence, Research, Bureau of Labor Statistics, PPI, of Labor Statistics, PNC Financial Services, Retail, Commerce Department, Gas Locations: New York

☆ Retail sales rebounded in February amid higher gas prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Retail sales at stores, online and in restaurants rose 0.6% in February from the prior month, up from January’s revised 1.1% decline, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. The broader US economy remains on strong footing, with employers continuing to hire and Americans still raking in strong wage gains. Sales were up across most categories last month, rising the most at home improvement stores, by a solid 2.2%. In February, car sales climbed 1.8%, purchases of electronics and appliances increased 1.5% and sales at restaurants rose 0.4%. Spending is heavily influenced by the state of the labor market, which remains solid.

Persons: don’t, ”, Robert Frick, “ It’s, “ Organizations: Washington CNN, Commerce Department, Consumers, Navy Federal Credit Union

☆ Here’s why the Fed cares about the cost of your haircut and your doctor’s visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Overall, consumer prices rose 0.3% in January 2024 from December 2023, according to the latest Consumer Price Index. The Labor Department releases its Consumer Price Index for February on Tuesday. The drivers of services inflation have been threefold: Vehicle insurance, hospital insurance, and financial services. The US Labor Department releases its Consumer Price Index for February. The US Commerce Department releases February figures on retail sales in addition to January data on business inventories.

Persons: don’t abate, Price, it’s, Bell, Saira Malik, They’ve, I’ve, Biden, Joe Biden, I’m, ”, Biden’s, Read, Guess Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Reserve, Labor Department, Oracle, Asana, Vail Resorts, US Labor Department, US Treasury Department, National Statistics, Adobe, Dollar, Sporting Goods, Getty, US Commerce Department, The New York Fed, Manufacturing Index, University of Michigan Locations: Nuveen, Thursday’s State, America

The construction industry added an estimated 23,000 jobs in February; however, the pandemic effects still loom large for businesses such as DreamOn Group, a San Antonio, Texas-based developer, general contractor and property management firm. When Julissa Carielo started the company 18 years ago as Texas Premier Building Contractor Inc., she did so with $75,000 pulled from her 401(k) and two employees. “The Baby Boomers retired; we had way too many retirement parties going on and not enough new folks coming in,” she said. Every week, we’re looking for workers, and we cannot find them.”DreamOn Group is one of many businesses affected by worker shortages in the skilled trades. DreamOn Group previously had an in-house crew to tackle projects such as demolition, concrete work, interior finishes, drywall and painting.

Persons: Julissa Carielo, ”, Read Organizations: DreamOn, Inc, Boomers Locations: San Antonio , Texas, Texas

☆ Biden says he can fix America’s housing affordability crisis. Will it work?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Bryan Mena | Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —Americans are in the throes of the worst housing affordability crisis in decades. If inflation keeps coming down, mortgage rates will come down as well. The first is a $10,000 refundable credit for middle-class homebuyers – essentially an interest rate buy-down. So, when inflation is too high, the only thing the Fed can do is jack up interest rates to slow demand. “We’ll still have the underlying housing shortage and and it’s going to be causing upward pressure on housing prices,” he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, I’m, ”, Biden’s, Biden, David Dworkin, ” Dworkin, “, Ed DeMarco, Jerome Powell, Freddie Mac, Powell, ” Powell, “ We’ll Organizations: Washington CNN, National Housing Conference, Council, Federal, Senate, Fed Locations: Thursday’s State, America

☆ Key takeaways from the latest jobs report
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“The economy remains strong, held up by a robust labor market,” wrote Christopher Rupkey, chief economist with FwdBonds, in a note Friday. Still, Friday’s jobs report also showed that the whopping gains initially recorded for January and December were revised down by a combined 167,000 jobs. January’s job gains now sit at an estimated 229,000 (down from the blowout 353,000); and December’s job growth at 290,000 (down from 333,000). In February, that included construction (up 23,000 jobs); transportation and warehousing (up 19,700 jobs); and retail (up 18,700 jobs). Friday’s jobs report showed that wage growth is indeed slowing.

Persons: ”, Christopher Rupkey, FwdBonds, “, ” Robert Frick, —, ” Diane Swonk, Swonk, February’s, ” Frick, Julissa Carielo, ” Swonk, Gus Faucher, Lydia Boussour, EY, Boussour, Janet Yellen, CNN’s Kate Bolduan, they’re, ” Yellen, Price, CNN’s Bryan Mena Organizations: New, New York CNN, of Labor Statistics, Navy Federal Credit Union, CNN, KPMG US, Health, Baby Boomers, Transportation Security Administration, DreamOn, Inc, Boomers, Fed, Labor, Federal, PNC Financial Services, “ Fed Locations: New York, San Antonio , Texas, Texas

Samuel Corum/Getty ImagesFederal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is set to testify Wednesday for the first of two three-hour-plus grillings by Congress on the state of the economy. But is there a particular law or rule that compels him to spend six hours answering lawmakers' (often aggressive) questions, a task that some may consider arduous? Officially known as the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978, the Humphrey-Hawkins act was first proposed by Sen. Hubert Humphrey and Rep. Augustus Hawkins. The act also requires that the Fed head report on and deliver a monetary report to Congress semiannually. While it's not clear how much he enjoys delivering six hours of testimony, he did say earlier this year that his idea of fun was "a really great inflation report."

Persons: Samuel Corum, Jerome Powell, Humphrey, Hawkins, Sen, Hubert Humphrey, Augustus Hawkins, Powell, it's Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Getty, Federal Reserve, Rep, Fed Locations: Washington , DC

☆ Fed Chair Powell says there’s no rush to cut interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington, DC CNN —The Federal Reserve is in no rush to cut interest rates, according to Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s written testimony submitted to congressional lawmakers, released Wednesday. Recent economic data showed that price pressures persisted in January, leading investors to recalibrate their expectations for rate cuts this year. Still, the timing and pace of rate cuts remains up in the air. Too soon to cut rates? In a recent interview with CNBC, Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin said “we’ll see” if the Fed cuts rates in 2024.

Persons: Jerome Powell’s, Powell’s, inflation’s, ”, José Torres, “ Young, there’s, Raphael Bostic, Thomas Barkin, “, “ I’m, Austan Goolsbee, we’re, Adriana Kugler Organizations: DC CNN, Federal, Fed, Financial, “, Interactive Brokers, CNN, Atlanta Fed, CNBC, Richmond Fed, Congress, Chicago Fed, ”, Stanford University Locations: Washington

☆ Even Cookie Monster is complaining about the US economy now
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington, DC CNN —Cookie Monster has taken a stance on a very real and controversial trend in the US economy — and he hates it. Me cookies are getting smaller,” Cookie Monster wrote. “Household paper products, like toilet paper and paper towels, are 34.9 percent more expensive per unit than they were in January 2019. The latest Consumer Price Index showed that inflation didn’t ease in January as much as Wall Street was expecting. Americans’ attitudes toward the economy have improved recently, thanks to slowing inflation, according to consumer surveys, but remain below levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Persons: “, “ Guess, Democratic Sen, Bob Casey, It’s, Sherrod Brown, Cookie, ”, Joe Biden, Biden, shrinkflation, ” Biden, Casey, Jerome Powell, Powell Organizations: DC CNN, Democratic, Labor Department, Research, of, Federal Trade Commission, Fed Locations: Washington, Ohio

☆ A bigger pool of American workers could continue to slow inflation even further
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Now, as the Federal Reserve faces the final stretch of its historic inflation battle, a bigger pool of workers could slow inflation even further. That then begs the question: How much more can better labor supply slow inflation? The US Labor Department releases January figures on job openings, quits, hires and layoffs. The US Labor Department reports the number of new applications for jobless benefits in the week ended March 2. China’s National Bureau of Statistics releases February inflation data.

Persons: Mary Daly, “, ” Sarah House, Michael Gapen, That’s, Jack Bantock, ’, ”, Richard Felton, Thomas, ’ ”, Patrick Harker, Ross, Nordstrom, Michael Barr, Campbell Soup, Foot, Jerome Powell, Loretta Mester Organizations: DC CNN, Federal Reserve, San Francisco Fed, National Association for Business Economics, Labor, CNN, Bank of America, White House’s Council, Economic Advisers, English Premier League, Chelsea, Burnley, Philadelphia Fed, Target, P Global, Institute for Supply Management, US Commerce Department, Abercrombie, Fitch, Financial Services, The Bank of Canada, US Labor Department, Broadcom, Costco, Eagle Outfitters, Potbelly, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, European Central Bank, Cleveland Fed, National Bureau of Statistics Locations: Washington, San, Wells, United States, London, JD.com, Kroger, Burlington, DocuSign

☆ US consumer confidence soured in February for the first time in three months
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

Washington, DC CNN —Americans’ attitudes toward the economy soured in February after a three-month streak of improving moods, according to The Conference Board’s latest consumer survey released Tuesday. The survey’s index fell in February to 106.7, down from a reading of 110.9 in January. Americans became less worried about rising food and gas prices, but more concerned about the job market, the survey showed. “The drop in confidence was broad-based, affecting all income groups except households earning less than $15,000 and those earning more than $125,000,” Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, said in a release. “Confidence deteriorated for consumers under the age of 35 and those 55 and over, whereas it improved slightly for those aged 35 to 54.”This story is developing and will be updated.

Persons: ” Dana Peterson Organizations: DC CNN, Conference Locations: Washington

☆ Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy could strengthen the US economy, Goldman Sachs predicts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington, DC CNN —The US economy is set to reap considerable benefits from Americans taking popular medications used for weight loss, including Ozempic and Wegovy, Goldman Sachs analysts wrote in a recent research report. Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, they proved to be highly effective at helping people shed weight in clinical trials. (Ozempic has not been approved for weight loss by regulators, though Wegovy, a similar drug, has.) Goldman Sachs argues that since poor health unambiguously weighs on the economy, improving health outcomes due to GLP-1s could lower costs and boost productivity, shoring up economic output. For some Americans who are obese but don’t have diabetes, obtaining those drugs has become difficult, if not impossible.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Eli Lilly, Jody Dushay, Beth, Doug Langa, they’ve Organizations: DC CNN, Government, Novo Nordisk, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical, CNN Locations: Washington, United States, North America, Novo

☆ Americans have racked up a trillion dollars in credit card debt. That’s actually okay
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Washington, DC CNN —Americans racked up a record amount of credit card debt in 2023, soaring past a trillion dollars. “Consumers still have a lot of money left over to be able to spend, so the credit card data is often misinterpreted,” Russell Price, chief economist at Ameriprise Financial, told CNN. According to a LendingTree analysis of more than 350,000 credit reports, the average unpaid credit card balance was $6,864 in the fourth quarter. Overall, US household debt (including credit card balances) rose to a new high of $17.5 trillion in the fourth quarter, up 1.2% from the prior three-month period. So, while there certainly isn’t a shortage of economic hurdles bedeviling people’s budget — and credit card debt has surged — the big picture indicates that, so far, Americans (and their economy) remain healthy.

Persons: ” Russell Price, Price, haven’t, market’s, ” Gregory Daco, ” Lara Rhame, Laura, Jensen Huang, Christine Lagarde, Virgin, Michael Barr, Raphael Bostic, Susan Collins, John Williams, Papa, Austan Goolsbee, Loretta Mester, fuboTV, Christopher Waller, Mary Daly, Adriana Kugler Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, DC CNN, Workers, New York Fed, Consumers, Ameriprise, CNN, Federal Reserve Bank of New, . New York Fed, Employers, Soaring, FS Investments, Nvidia, Huawei, AMD, Microsoft, Broadcom, US Commerce Department, Central Bank, eBay, Smucker, Urban Outfitters, Global, Board, TJX, Monster Beverage, Baidu, HP, Paramount Global, Anheuser, Busch Inbev, Dell Technologies, Papa John’s, US Labor Department, National Association of Realtors, P, China’s National Bureau, Statistics, Pearson, P Global, Institute for Supply Management, University of Michigan Locations: Washington, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, ., EY, Santa Clara, Singapore, Shenzhen, China, Beijing, CAVA

☆ Higher-for-longer interest rates favor large companies over their smaller rivals in many ways
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

High interest rates squeeze companies of all sizes, but that’s especially the case for smaller firms, unlike large companies better equipped to weather the storm. Before the Bell: How do the effects of higher-for-longer interest rates on companies vary by size? I think it might be a stretch to say that M&A activity picks up because of higher interest rates, so instead, it’s that if good businesses are beginning to suffer because of higher interest rates, then they might be more likely to be a target. Gas prices always rise as winter winds down because demand increases and gas stations must switch over to more expensive summer fuel. No matter the cause, rising gas prices are bad news for consumers already frustrated by the cost of living.

Persons: It’s, Bell, Lauren Goodwin, Matt Egan, ”, Patrick De Haan, doesn’t, ” Read, Raphael Bostic, Michelle Bowman, Philip Jefferson, Patrick Harker, Lisa Cook, Neel Kashkari, Christopher Waller Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, DC CNN, Federal Reserve, New York Life Investments, AAA, ’, HSBC, Walmart, Home Depot, Barclays, Caesars Entertainment, Nvidia, Rivian, Fidelity, Marriott, Intuit, Pacific Gas & Electric, Global, Chicago Fed, US Labor Department, National Association of Realtors, Warner Bros ., Icahn Enterprises Locations: Washington, Wingstop, United States

☆ A US productivity boom may explain how inflation slowed amid a strong economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

If productivity is strong, that means the US economy is doing more with less, or being more productive. Productivity is measured by dividing all the goods and services produced in the economy by every hour people worked. “But the economy did well, so that translated into higher productivity, supporting higher wage growth and fending off inflation from accelerating.”Last year’s productivity boom could also be a combination of all of the above. Still, it may be too soon to know if last year’s productivity burst was truly a transformative shift in the US economy. “Sometimes at the very end of an economic cycle, productivity can be boosted by cost-saving measures,” Goodwin of New York Life Investments said.

Persons: ” Lauren Goodwin, Mark Zandi, John Min, Austan Goolsbee, It’s, ” Min, ” Goodwin, ” Organizations: DC CNN, Labor Department, New York Life Investments, CNN, Microsoft, Meta, Citigroup, Monex, Federal Reserve, Chicago Fed, Bloomberg Locations: Washington

☆ US retail sales declined in January by much more than expected
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington, DC CNN —Spending at US retailers tumbled much more than expected in January as cold weather across the United States kept shoppers at home after a robust holiday spending season. Retail sales, which captures spending on all goods and food services, fell 0.8% in January, the Commerce Department reported Thursday, breaking a two-month streak of increases. Spending declined across various categories last month, including at gas stations and home improvement stores, likely due to the cold weather, falling 1.7% and 4.1%, respectively. January’s Arctic chill also reversed course later in the month in some parts of the country and it’s possible that retail spending could come roaring back in February. “The Fed is likely to look through one month’s weak retail sales report, especially since there is an obvious explanation from a clearly temporary issue,” he said.

Persons: it’s, Bill Adams, “, ” Organizations: DC CNN, Commerce Department, Comerica Bank Locations: Washington, United States

☆ A soft landing is now likely. But Americans will still deal with unaffordable housing
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In a letter days before the Fed’s decision Wednesday to hold interest rates steady at a 23-year high, Democratic US senators blasted the central bank for America’s housing woes. In 2021 when the Fed’s key interest rate was near zero, home-price growth soared at a historic double-digit pace, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index. Divounguy said that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate will likely not fall below 6% this year. That way we can actually start heading in the right direction with affordability and have that be sustainable and not just a short-term interest rate phenomenon,” she said. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin delivers remarks.

Persons: Valerie Plesch, Orphe Divounguy, Freddie Mac, it’s, Fannie Mae, Divounguy, ” Daryl Fairweather, Trump, Jerome Powell, Donald Trump, Powell, David Goldman, Alexandra Ross, ” Trump, Maria Bartiromo, Joe Biden, Estee Lauder, Tyson, Raphael Bostic, Eli Lilly, Loretta Mester, Walt Disney, Adriana Kugler, Thomas Barkin, Michelle Bowman, Ralph Lauren, Armour Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, DC CNN, Federal Reserve, Democratic, Eccles Federal Reserve, Bloomberg, Getty, CNN, National Association of Realtors, Fox Business, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trump, Fed, Caterpillar, Tyson Foods, P Global, Institute for Supply Management, Atlanta Fed, Toyota, UBS AG, Chipotle, Cleveland Fed, Walt, CVS, PayPal, Brands, Fox, The Carlyle, News Corporation, New York Times Company, Mattel, Spirit Airlines, US Commerce Department, China’s National Bureau of Statistics, ConocoPhillips, Unilever, Duke Energy, Expedia, Warner Music Group, Tenet Healthcare, Richmond Fed, Pepsico, Honda Locations: Washington, Washington , DC, CAVA

☆ An affordability crisis is making some young Americans give up on ever owning a home
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Washington, DC CNN —Americans are living through the toughest housing market in a generation and, for some young people, the quintessential dream of owning a home is slipping away. Mortgage rates surged in recent years, hitting the highest levels in more than two decades last fall. CNN spoke with some young Americans about their thoughts on the current state of the US housing market and their plans for the future. “The housing market is not a single person’s market.”What typically happens when a regional housing market becomes too unaffordable is that people without the means simply move somewhere cheaper, such as a suburb an hour away, for example. Still, affordability takes into account mortgage rates, family incomes and single-family home prices, which remain a vexing pain point.

Persons: It’s, Baby, Brandie Grant, Grant, ”, “, ” Brandie Grant, Brandie, Ross, Emily Bunton, Ross Bunton, That’s, ” Bunton, I’m, Corey Griffis, ’, hasn’t, ” Griffis, Shyahm Aguilar, Shyahm Aguilar Shyahm Aguilar, Aguilar, we’ve, ” Aguilar, that’s, there’s, Fannie Mae’s, ” Mark Palim, Fannie Mae, Mario Tama, Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s, Sofiya Vyshnevska, Vyshnevska, “ Young Organizations: DC CNN, Baby Boomers, CNN, San Francisco Bay Area, National Association of Realtors, Housing Administration, Montana State University, Federal, Housing Survey, “, NAR Locations: Washington, San Francisco Bay, United States, St, Louis , Missouri, Portland , Oregon, Mexico, Santa Fe , New Mexico, Santa Fe, Merida, Colorado, Phoenix, Queen Creek , Arizona, Minneapolis, Houston, Dallas, Austin , Texas, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Florida, Atlanta

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