Weekly Update 03/21/2025: Fed Holds Rates Steady; Powell Sounds Confident on Economic Outlook
US retail sales rose by less than forecast in February and the prior month was revised lower, adding to concerns of a pullback in consumer spending.
US retail sales rose by less than forecast in February and the prior month was revised lower, adding to concerns of a pullback in consumer spending.
Consumer prices rose 0.2% in February CPI. Excluding food and energy components, the consumer price index (CPI) also rose 0.2% according to data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
US job growth steadied last month while the unemployment rate rose — a mixed snapshot of a job market hanging on the balance of quickly changing government policy.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis says gross domestic product (GDP) rose at an unrevised 2.3% annualized pace in the fourth quarter. This was the second report about the economy with the advance reading out last month.
US housing starts slowed in January as builders pulled back on single- and multifamily home construction amid growing worries over mortgage rates and unsold homes.
Here is a quick summary of this earnings season so far. As of last Friday, 72% of the S&P 500 companies had reported with the index showing a very strong 13.3% year-over-year growth so far relative to the expectation for 7.3% growth.