In September 2024, the U.S. economy saw a significant increase in job additions, substantially surpassing expectations and contributing to a robust employment landscape as the unemployment rate declined, according to the U.S. Labor Department’s report issues Friday 4th October 2024. U.S. Non-farm payroll numbers rose by 254,000 in September 2024,Read More →
In September 2024, the German consumer price index softened to 1.8%, falling below expectations based on preliminary data from Destatis, the national statistics office. Month-on-month, the preliminary harmonized CPI saw a slight decrease of 0.1%. According to recent analysis, the last instance of the German harmonized CPI falling below 2%,Read More →
In August 2024, U.S. inflation edged closer to the Federal Reserve’s target, potentially paving the way for future reductions in interest rates, according to a report from the U.S. Commerce Department released Friday 27th September 2024 The personal consumption expenditures price index (PCE), which is the Fed’s preferred gauge forRead More →
China’s yuan hit its strongest level in over 16 months on Wednesday 25th September 2024 after Beijing unveiled a slew of stimulus measures to shore up the slowing economy on Tuesday 24th September 2024. The Chinese yuan had weakened against the U.S. dollar over the last several weeks, as theRead More →
In September 2024, consumer sentiment plummeted, marking the most significant drop in over three years, driven by escalating concerns over employment and business conditions, according to a report by the Conference Board released on Tuesday 24th September 2024. The consumer confidence index reportedly fell to 98.7 from 105.6 in AugustRead More →
The London Stock Market has recently been hailed as Europe’s best stock market! According to a survey by Bank of America, Wall Street says that the UK is now the most preferred equity market in Europe. This positive sentiment comes as the FTSE 100 hit recent highs, reflecting a shiftRead More →
UK inflation was reported at 2.2% for August 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released on Wednesday 18th August 2024 The consumer price index (CPI) figure aligned with the forecasts of analysts and remained consistent with July’s inflation rate of 2.2%. Previously, the headline CPI hadRead More →
In August 2024, wholesale prices saw an increase that was roughly in line with expectations, marking the final inflation data point before the Federal Reserve’s anticipated interest rate cut due on 18th September 2024 The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Thursday 12th September 2024 that the producer price indexRead More →
As anticipated in the U.S., prices rose in August 2024, while the annual inflation rate fell to its lowest point since February 2021, according to a Labor Department report on Wednesday 11th September 2024. This development likely now paves the way for a Federal Reserve interest rate reduction next weekRead More →
The UK’s economy did not experience growth in July 2024, continuing the stagnation from June 2024, as indicated by official data Analysts had anticipated a modest growth of 0.2% for July. However, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell short of the expectations set by economists surveyed by Reuters, who hadRead More →
The stock market is often seen as a barometer of economic health, but its relationship with the broader U.S. economy is more nuanced than it might appear. Although there are links between the two, they do not always correlate. The intricacies of this relationship and its implications for investors andRead More →
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) reached a new record high on Monday 26th August 2024, closing at 41240. Investors have responded positively to the Federal Reserve’s recent indications that interest rate cuts are highly probable to commence in September 2024. Market dynamics and sentiment The rise of the DJIARead More →
Job growth in the US last year was weaker than previously believed, according to a statement from the Labor Department on Wednesday 21st August 2024. This revelation has intensified the ongoing debate regarding the health of the U.S. economy. The department’s updated figures indicate that there were approximately 818,000 fewerRead More →
Record numbers of people are leaving New Zealand as unemployment increases, interest rates stay elevated, and economic growth remains weak, according to government statistics. Statistics New Zealand’s data released on Tuesday 13th August 2024 indicates that 131,200 individuals left New Zealand in the year ending June 2024, tentatively the highestRead More →
UK retail sales up The rise came after a significant drop in sales volumes, which track the amount purchased, in June due to unfavorable weather affecting demand. Last month, department stores and retailers of sports equipment saw an uptick in the volume of goods sold thanks to the Euro footballRead More →
Japanese stocks led gains across Asia on Friday 16th August 2024, poised for their best week in four years, with the Nikkei 225 climbing over 3% following a Wall Street rally. The surge came as new economic data alleviated concerns of a U.S. recession. In the U.S., retail sales sawRead More →
In July 2024, U.S. consumer spending exceeded expectations, and inflation pressures continued to ease, as reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce on Thursday 15th August 2024. Retail sales in the U.S. rose by 1% for the month, with advanced figures adjusted for seasonality but not for inflation. This surpassedRead More →
GDP increased by 0.8% quarter-on-quarter, surpassing estimates of a 0.5% increase. This marked a turnaround from the revised decline of 0.6% in the Q1 After the release of the GDP data, Japanese markets climbed, and the yen saw a slight appreciation against the U.S. dollar.Read More →
The U.K. economy grew by 0.6% in the second quarter of 2024, the Office for National Statistics said Thursday 15th August 2024, in line with expectations. The data release follows an expansion of 0.7% in the first quarter of 2024. Economic growth was flat in June, in line with forecasts. TheRead More →
U.S. consumer prices (CPI) increased at the slowest rate in over three years last month, further supporting the argument for the Fed to begin reducing interest rates. According to the U.S. Labor Department, prices climbed 2.9% in the 12 months leading up to July 2024, marking the smallest yearly riseRead More →
The UK’s inflation rate has risen for the first time this year, official ONS figures show. This indicates that overall prices increased by 2.2% in the year leading up to July, a rise from 2% in June, surpassing the Bank of England’s target. The anticipated increase is primarily attributed to theRead More →
Falling commodity prices can be a signal of economic trouble ahead When commodity prices drop, it often reflects a decrease in demand for raw materials, which can be a sign of slowing economic activity. For instance, the recent decline in copper prices is seen as a potential indicator of economic slowdown.Read More →
In July 2024, a principal indicator of U.S. wholesale inflation climbed less than anticipated, potentially paving the way for the Federal Reserve to begin reducing interest rates. The Producer Price Index (PPI), which is a gauge of wholesale inflation, saw a modest increase of 0.1% for the month of July,Read More →
The stock markets mix of toil and trouble is in the cauldron ready for a bear market in 2025, if not before. Why? These concerns are now all combining, and it will likely add-up to a bear market of around 25% in 2025 (this is my best guess). Remember –Read More →
In July 2024, China’s consumer prices index (CPI) increased by 0.5% from the previous year, as reported by the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics on Friday 9th August 2024. The increase surpassed the 0.3% predicted by analysts. The core consumer price index, excluding food and energy, climbed by 0.4% fromRead More →
Stocks rose on Thursday 8th August 2024 as the latest U.S. employment data bolstered investor confidence in the economy, following a significant market downturn earlier in the week. The S&P 500 increased by 2.3%, closing at 5319.31, marking its best day since November 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumpedRead More →