US Fed Watch Fed still preparing ground for QE taper We think the sharp slowdown in employment growth in August and broader signs of weakness in the incoming activity data mean the Fed will hold off formally announcing a QE taper at its September... 15th September 2021 · 8 mins read
US Economics Update Fed’s core measures point to sustained inflation ahead In his Jackson Hole speech, Fed Chair Jerome Powell highlighted alternative measures of inflation, including the Dallas Fed trimmed-mean PCE and inflation ex-durable goods, which he claimed were... 9th September 2021 · 4 mins read
US Economics Update Delta contributing to worsening labour shortages The continued surge in job openings and elevated quits rate in July suggest that labour shortages are still intensifying, which will put further upward pressure on wages. (See Chart 1.) There is... 8th September 2021 · 3 mins read
US Data Response ISM Manufacturing Index (Aug.) The details of the small rise in the headline ISM manufacturing index in August to 59.9, from 59.5, suggest demand remains strong and that, while some of the recent price pressures have faded, supply... 1st September 2021 · 2 mins read
US Employment Report Preview Continued strong payroll gains in August We expect a 750,000 gain in payrolls in August which, although slightly weaker than the gains seen in June and July, would be enough to push the unemployment rate down to 5.1% and would probably count... 26th August 2021 · 4 mins read
US Chart Pack Growth slowing even before potential Delta drag The 1.1% m/m fall in retail sales last month illustrates the worsening drag from the sharp slowdown in real income growth, as earlier fiscal support fades and surging prices erode purchasing power... 18th August 2021 · 9 mins read
US Economics Inflation peaking; growing chance of earlier taper While the July inflation data this week added to signs that we’re past the peak of “transitory” gains in prices for used autos and reopening services, the pick-up in some of the more cyclically driven... 13th August 2021 · 7 mins read
Senate Passes $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan. What’s Inside. “Even though the impact on the deficit will be larger than we initially anticipated, the economic impact will still be modest because that spending will take a few years to ramp up and will in any... 10th August 2021 · Barron's
US Economics Update Labour shortages pushing wage growth higher The ongoing surge in both job openings and quits in June suggests that labour shortages are still getting worse. While the acceleration in payroll gains in recent months suggests that is not proving... 9th August 2021 · 3 mins read
US Economics Weekly Infrastructure deal heads to crucial vote While many Republicans will balk at the cost of the bipartisan infrastructure package, which the CBO said would add $256bn (1.1% of GDP) to the deficit over the next decade, that is unlikely to derail... 6th August 2021 · 6 mins read
US Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Jun.) Although the headline data show bank loans stagnant, that is mostly due to the forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program loans and mortgage securitisations, with the broader evidence pointing to an... 5th August 2021 · 3 mins read
US Data Response International Trade (Jun.) The widening in the trade deficit to $75.7bn in June, from $71.0bn in May, is unlikely to be sustained now that consumer goods demand appears to have peaked and surveys show demand for US exports... 5th August 2021 · 2 mins read
US Economics ISM Manufacturing Index (Jul.) The further small decline in the ISM manufacturing index in July probably has more to do with the continued drag from supply constraints than waning demand. The details did at least suggest that... 2nd August 2021 · 2 mins read
US Economics Delta variant adds to consumption headwinds Although 60% of American adults are now fully vaccinated, the uptick in coronavirus infections linked to the Delta variant has been accompanied by a slight rebound in fears over the spread of the... 20th July 2021 · 9 mins read
US Economics Industrial Production (Jun) The modest 0.4% m/m increase in industrial production in June was due to a weather-related spike in utilities demand and a recovery in mining output, with manufacturing output dragged down by another... 15th July 2021 · 2 mins read
Half of U.S. Hospitality Workers Won’t Return in Job Crunch “Widespread signs of labour shortages are real and reflect longer-lasting factors,” Capital Economics senior U.S. economist Michael Pearce said in a research note. “While we are confident all three... 8th July 2021 · Bloomberg