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.
Weekly Update 03/14/2025: Market Volatility Continues
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.
Weekly Update 03/07/2025: US Adds 151,000 New Jobs in February as Unemployment Rate Ticks up to 4.1%
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.
Weekly Update 02/28/2025: Inflation As Expected
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.
Weekly Update 02/21/2025: Fed Minutes Show Cautious Approach to Future Rate Cuts
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.
Weekly Update 02/14/2025: Earnings Season Winds Down as Inflation Pressures Remain Sticky
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.