Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday responded to a Trump administration official's demands for information about cost overruns for a renovation project at the central bank's Washington headquarters campus, saying the project was large in scope and involved a number of safety upgrades and hazardous materials removals. "As explained on the Board's public website, we take seriously the responsibility to be good stewards of public resources as we fulfill the duties given to us by Congress on behalf of the American people," Powell wrote in his letter to Office of Management and...
The personal consumption expenditure price index in the US increased 0.2% month-over-month in October 2024, the same as in September and in line with expectations. Service prices rose by 0.4%, while goods prices decreased 0.1%. The core PCE index, excluding food and energy, rose 0.3%, also the same as in the previous month, as expected. Food prices were unchanged and energy prices decreased 0.1%. Annually, the PCE inflation rate edged higher to 2.3% from 2021-lows of 2.1%. The core rate rose to 2.8% from 2.7%. These increases in annual rates are influenced by base effects from the previous...
The number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits fell to 213,000 in the week ending Nov. 24, 2024. The figure was lower than the 215,000 estimate and lower than the previous weekly reading of 215,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. Source: @Newsmaker23
The Conference Board (CB) released its Consumer Confidence figures, a key indicator of the level of consumer confidence in economic activity. The actual reading came in at 111.7, just shy of the forecasted 111.8, marking a significant increase from the previous figure of 2.1. The Consumer Confidence index is a leading indicator, with the potential to predict consumer spending, a major player in overall economic activity. Higher readings indicate higher consumer optimism, making this recent figure a positive sign for the US economy. While the actual figure of 111.7 narrowly missed the...
The number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits fell to 213,000 in the week ending Nov. 17, 2024. The figure was lower than the 220,000 estimate and lower than the previous weekly reading of 217,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. Source: @Newsmaker23
US retail sales advanced in October, boosted by autos that masked more mixed performance elsewhere heading into the holiday season. The value of retail purchases, unadjusted for inflation, increased 0.4% after an upwardly revised 0.8% gain in September, Commerce Department data showed Friday. Excluding autos, sales edged up 0.1%. Source : Bloomberg
China's official NBS Manufacturing PMI increased to 49.7 in June 2025 from May's 49.5, matching market expectations while marking the third consecutive month of contraction in factory activity.
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Both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 hovered around the flatline on Friday, as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of further developments in trade talks between US President Trump and Chinese...
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he plans to send a single letter to over 150 countries outlining the tariff rate they will face, saying, "It's all going to be the same for everyone, for that...