Robert Hughes

As 2016 Ends, Big Economic News Awaits

The Thanksgiving holiday is over and the final month of 2016 is approaching. The coming week brings a crowded list of important economic events, and beyond it, some big economic news to watch in December.

Rising Wages a Positive Sign Heading into Holidays

The preliminary estimate for personal income for the third quarter shows a 3.9 percent increase, the same pace as in the second quarter, according to new data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis this morning. These are solid though not spectacular gains. 

New Home Sales Tick Upward in September

Sales of new single-family homes rose 3.1 percent in September to a pace of 593,000 homes, from a downward revised 575,000 pace in August (see chart). Though new home sales […]

Gasoline, Housing Push Up Cost of Living

Inflation trends tend to evolve slowly, though individual components like energy prices or food prices can be volatile month to month. There are three key points to note from the […]

Our Economic Index Moves Into Positive Territory

Our index of leading indicators moved back above 50 for the first time since January, reflecting a more positive tilt to recent economic data. That’s according to our October edition […]