Increased Optimism About Current and Expected Conditions Increased optimism about current and expected conditions supported a better than expected result for the Consumer Confidence Index in January. Consumer spending should remain a key driver of economic growth this year. Wells Fargo US Drill Rigs Running Down From Previous Count There were 794 drill rigs running [...]
Financial Conditions and Consumers' Outlook Remain Positive "Financial conditions and consumers' outlook remain positive, which should support growth of about 2 percent through early 2020, despite the US LEI decline in four of the last five months. Its six-month growth rate turned slightly more negative in the fourth quarter of 2019, with the manufacturing indicators [...]
Unemployment Rate Hovering at a Fifty -Year Low With the unemployment rate hovering at a fifty -year low, it leaves 500,000 US factory jobs unfilled, the most in nearly two decades, according to the Labor Department. Manufacturers are paying relocation costs and bonuses to move new hires across the country at a time of record-low [...]
US Trade Deficit Fell to Lowest Point in More Than Three Years The November 2019 US trade deficit fell to its lowest point in more than three years, suggesting the Trump administration's agenda to recalibrate international flows of goods and services is having an impact. This confirms that net exports are going to provide a [...]
Welcome to 2020! Chicago Business Barometer Four-Month High In December The Chicago Business Barometer four-month high reached 48.9 after rising 2.6 points in December . Business sentiment dropped to its lowest reading since Q2 2009 and the index was below the 50-mark for the second consecutive quarter. Among the five main categories, Supplier Deliveries and [...]
