US Economics Weekly Revisions leave economic landscape unchanged The comprehensive revisions to the GDP data did not make a significant change to the macroeconomic story, with the real economy still 6.1% larger than in the fourth quarter of 2019 and the discrepancy... 29th September 2023 · 8 mins read
US Economics Weekly Hawkish Fed at odds with the data The new projections published by the Fed this week signalled that officials are fully onboard with the idea of interest rates staying ‘higher for longer’, but that is based on forecasts for real... 22nd September 2023 · 6 mins read
US Economics Weekly Shutdowns and strikes could disrupt economy With no agreement on a new contract with the big three automakers, the United Auto Workers union has started limited strike action. The impact on overall GDP should be limited but, if production... 15th September 2023 · 5 mins read
US Economics Weekly Higher energy prices not a game changer for the Fed The further rise this week in the WTI crude oil price to a 10-month high of $87 a barrel, from a recent low of less than $70 in late June, has raised fears that the resulting rebound in consumer price... 8th September 2023 · 8 mins read
US Economics Weekly Price pressures easing even as consumers go crazy This week brought more data showing that real economic activity is holding up surprisingly well given surging interest rates but, in part due to the easing in labour market conditions, price pressures... 1st September 2023 · 5 mins read
US Economics Weekly Fed not yet joining markets’ hawkish shift After a relatively cautious speech at Jackson Hole from Fed Chair Jerome Powell and data this week which cast doubt on the idea of an economic resurgence, we still aren’t convinced that the rise in... 25th August 2023 · 7 mins read
US Economics Weekly Markets on edge ahead of Jackson Hole The continued surge in long-term Treasury yields to their highest level since before the financial crisis, as expectations of an economic re-acceleration have mounted, sets a fraught backdrop ahead of... 18th August 2023 · 5 mins read
US Economics Weekly Inflation and activity data at odds The sudden burst of disinflationary pressure, partly due to a moderation in non-housing core services, is another reason to doubt the narrative that the real activity is gathering momentum. 11th August 2023 · 8 mins read
US Economics Weekly Inflation pressure dissipating The news that average hourly earnings growth increased by 0.4% m/m in July, and 4.4% over the past 12 months, might seem like a problem for the Fed. With productivity growth accelerating, however, it... 4th August 2023 · 6 mins read
US Economics Weekly Data dependence spells the end for Fed tightening This week’s FOMC meeting brought hints that Fed officials are no longer wedded to previous plans for further policy tightening. Even if activity growth continues to hold up a bit better than expected... 28th July 2023 · 7 mins read
US Economics Weekly Fed to pivot in H1 next year The Fed is almost certain to hike its policy rate by 25bp to between 5.25% and 5.50% at next week’s FOMC meeting, but we increasingly believe that will prove to be the peak. Despite the ‘higher for... 21st July 2023 · 8 mins read
US Economics Weekly Core inflationary pressures melting away The news that core CPI increased by a muted 0.16% m/m in June, which is less than 2% in annualised terms, has raised hopes that the Fed’s planned rate hike this month will be the last in this cycle... 14th July 2023 · 7 mins read
US Economics Weekly Labour market resilience points to July rate hike The 10-year Treasury yield climbed back above 4% this week, as markets interpreted the minutes of the mid-June FOMC meeting as hawkish and reacted to signs that, although labour market conditions may... 7th July 2023 · 6 mins read
US Economics Weekly Consumption and core inflation losing momentum The apparent weakness of consumption growth and slowdown in core inflation in the second quarter leave us a bit more confident in our view that the Fed’s next rate hike will prove to be the last. 30th June 2023 · 10 mins read
US Economics Weekly Growth still weakening despite housing rebound The jump in housing starts in May appeared to confirm that the sector is enjoying a revival of fortune as mortgage rates have eased slightly. Nevertheless, the experience of the mild recession of 2001... 23rd June 2023 · 6 mins read
US Economics Weekly Weaker data likely to limit Fed to one more rate hike The Fed put its rate hiking cycle on pause this week but, in a hawkish shift, its new projections showed the median fed funds rate rising to 5.6% by year-end, which is consistent with 50bp of... 16th June 2023 · 5 mins read
