Today's Economy Economic Roundup: Fear and Loathing the U.S. Yield Curve Some of what ails the economy could be fixed quickly if the trade war were to end. Canada Weekly: Trade-Deal Trouble Recent political events in the U.S. and Canada lower the likelihood of the USMCA's passage. Big Gains in U.S. Existing-Home Sales and Wholesale Inventories Inventories are on track to add to first quarter GDP growth. Europe Daily Briefing: Euro Zone PMIs Were a Shocker They suggest factory output fell at its sharpest rate in six years in March. » VIEW MORE TODAY'S ECONOMY
Commentary Forecaster’s Mailbag: Doves Settle in Asia Stability in Thailand’s monetary policy is important ahead of Sunday’s general election. Europe Weekly Highlights and Preview, 22 March, 2019 Brexit and U.K. politics will continue to dominate the headlines. Japan Outlook: Improvements Made, but Challenges Ahead Uncertainty clouds the outlook for 2019, and risks are tilted to the downside. Making Sense of the Latest on Brexit A short-term extension of Article 50 was granted, but a long-term extension is still possible. » VIEW MORE COMMENTARY
Today's Economic Indicators
Russian Federation Monetary Policy Mar. 2019: 7.75% The Central Bank of Russia held its key policy rate at 7.75% at its March meeting, as inflation undershot the bank’s projections. Canada Consumer Price Index Feb. 2019: 1.5% Headline consumer price inflation barely inched higher in February, as the fourth-quarter drop in gasoline prices weighed on the year-over-year price comparison. Canada Retail Trade Jan. 2019: -0.3% Canadian retail sales fell for the third straight month. United States Tech Pulse Feb. 2019: 103.7 The U.S. tech sector is in good health. United States Wholesale Trade (MWTR) Jan. 2019: 1.2% Inventories expanded ahead of the consensus forecast of 0.2% at the start of the first quarter. United States Regional and State Employment Feb. 2019: February was a weaker month for the U.S. labor market, with employment numbers for state and regional economies echoing those released a couple of weeks ago for the nation; they show weakness after strong gains in earlier months, and there were signs that weather was a restraining factor. United States Existing-Home Sales Feb. 2019: 5.51 mil Existing-home sales bounced back strongly in February, making up most of the losses from the previous year. Sales increased 11.8% from January, though they are still down by 1.8% from February 2018. United States Treasury Budget Feb. 2019: -$234.0 bil The federal government has incurred a cumulative budget deficit of $544.2 billion in fiscal 2019, compared with $391 billion over the same time last fiscal year. » VIEW MORE ECONOMIC INDICATORS |