US Economics Update Fed steps up tightening amid worsening inflation The Fed’s larger 75bp rate hike came as little surprise to the markets following the worse than expected May CPI data and Monday’s tip-off in the Wall Street Journal. Our view that inflation will... 15th June 2022 · 3 mins read
US Economics Update Fed to hike by 75bp this week, in race back to neutral Last Friday, we warned in our Data Response to May’s CPI report that the unexpected rise in headline inflation opened the door to a 75bp rate hike by the Fed this Wednesday. Media reports this... 14th June 2022 · 3 mins read
US Economics Update Is low household saving a serious threat? We doubt that the low saving rate represents a serious threat to the economy. But with slower employment growth likely to limit gains in income later this year, it adds to our sense that the recent... 2nd June 2022 · 2 mins read
US Economics Update Labour shortages easing in worst hit sectors While the headline job openings and quits rates remain close to record levels, below the surface there are clear signs that labour shortages are easing in the hardest-hit sectors. That provides some... 1st June 2022 · 3 mins read
US Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Apr.) Annual money growth is slowing sharply and, given rapidly rising interest rates, wealth losses and QT, that slowdown has a lot further to run. The growth rate of bank loans is accelerating, however... 31st May 2022 · 3 mins read
US Economics Update Inventory rebound shows shortages easing fitfully The rapid rebuilding of inventories over the past few quarters has left it close to normal levels in some sectors. But the bigger picture is that economy-wide inventories are still exceptionally lean... 25th May 2022 · 4 mins read
US Economics Update Recession Watch (May) For all the fears that the tightening of financial conditions over the past few months will push the economy into recession, our composite model still puts the risks over the next 12 months at close... 25th May 2022 · 4 mins read
US Economics Update Fed delivers 50bp hike and QT With the Fed "highly attentive to inflation risks" it raised its policy rate by a bigger 50bp today, to between 0.75% and 1.00%, and launched its quantitative tightening; with the caps on the value of... 4th May 2022 · 3 mins read
US Economics Update Labour market conditions remain tight While the job openings and quits rates both edged up again in March, the bigger picture remains that labour market conditions have been stable over the past nine months or so, with few signs that... 3rd May 2022 · 3 mins read
US Economics Update Fed kicks off tightening cycle in hawkish mood The Fed began its tightening cycle with a 25bp hike today and, despite the uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine and China's efforts to contain the spread of the Omicron variant, officials look set... 16th March 2022 · 3 mins read
US Economics Update Recession risks still contained The earlier spike in crude oil prices, slump in stock markets and the flattening of the Treasury yield curve have prompted fears that US economy is headed for a 1970s-style stagflation, but our... 16th March 2022 · 2 mins read
US Economics Update Tentative easing in labour shortages Both job openings and quits have fallen back slightly over the past several months, which suggests that wage growth and underlying inflationary pressures should soon stabilise. 9th March 2022 · 3 mins read
US Economics Update Higher oil prices not a huge risk to consumers The surge in gasoline prices in recent days will only add to the drag on households purchasing power from fading stimulus and higher inflation over recent months. But with consumers able to cushion... 8th March 2022 · 4 mins read
US Economics Update Powell keeps the Fed’s options open Chair (pro tempore) Jerome Powell indicated in his congressional testimony today that, with Russia's attacks on Ukraine roiling markets and creating additional uncertainty, he was inclined to support... 2nd March 2022 · 3 mins read
US Economics Update US economy insulated from Ukraine war The war in Ukraine will prevent US inflation from falling as much as it otherwise would have in the coming months, but it will have little impact on the real economy, so we doubt it will stop the Fed. 1st March 2022 · 3 mins read
US Economics Update Worst may be over for goods shortages Goods supply shortages are now easing. Like the recent stabilisation in labour market slack, that improvement has, at least partly, been driven by a slowdown in demand, so it isn’t a sign that... 1st March 2022 · 4 mins read
