Import Prices Edge Higher in March
Import prices increased 0.2 percent in March, well below expectations for a 1.0 percent gain. A rebound in oil helped fuel the positive print, but ex-fuel prices continued to slide. Nevertheless, the...
View ArticleProducer Prices Unexpectedly Decline in March
Due to the first monthly decline in services prices since October 2015, the Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand unexpectedly fell 0.1 percent in March. Core PPI-final demand also slipped by the...
View ArticleCPI Inflation Rises Modestly in March
CPI came in softer than expected in March with both the headline and core indices rising 0.1 percent. Even with the softer figures, the trend remains upward and could test the Fed’s stance on data...
View ArticleAnother Soft First Quarter U.S. GDP Performance
Drags from BFI, trade and inventories tamped down the pace of Q1 GDP growth. Consumer spending is still the primary pillar of support for the current economic expansion and should remain so for the...
View ArticleUS: Employment Costs Remain Tame in Q1
Total employee compensation costs maintained a relatively steady, but sluggish, pace in the first quarter of 2016. The absence of stronger wage growth should keep the Fed cautious on near-term policy...
View ArticleProductivity Slump Persists in Q1
Productivity declined 1.0 percent in Q1 and has risen only 0.6 percent over the past year. Unit labor costs continue to rise, indicating greater pressure on corporate margins if costs are not passed on...
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