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After eleven rate hikes since March of 2022, the Fed once again left their benchmark Federal Funds Rate unchanged at a range of 5.25% to 5.5%. This decision was unanimous and marks the fifth straight meeting they held rates steady. The Fed Funds Rate is the interest rate for overnight borrowing for banks and it is not […]

March Madness means munchies! This Courtside Caramel Corn courtesy of Taste of Home will be a slam dunk with friends and family. Pop 6 quarts of popcorn and set aside. Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease 2 13×9-inch baking pans. In a large saucepan, combine 2 cups packed brown sugar, 1 cup butter (cubed), […]

Housing data will share headlines with the Fed, starting with builder confidence for March from the National Association of Home Builders on Monday. Tuesday brings news on February’s Housing Starts and Building Permits, while Existing Home Sales data follows on Thursday. The Fed’s meeting begins Tuesday, with their Monetary Policy Statement and press conference coming […]

Retail Sales rose 0.6% from January to February though this modest rebound was below estimates of an 0.8% gain. Sales in January were also revised downward from the originally reported 0.8% decline to a 1.1% decline when compared to December. What’s the bottom line? After a strong holiday shopping season, consumer spending has cooled in the […]

The Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures inflation on the wholesale level, rose 0.6% in February, doubling market estimates. On an annual basis, PPI rose from 1% to 1.6%, well above the 1.1% that was forecasted. Core PPI, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, was hotter than expected with a 0.3% rise. The year-over-year […]

There were 209,000 Initial Jobless Claims filed in the latest week, marking a decline of 1,000 applications for new unemployment benefits from the previous week. Continuing Claims rose by 17,000, with 1.811 million people still receiving benefits after filing their initial claim. What’s the bottom line? The latest Continuing Claims figure is much lower than the 1.9 […]

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed that inflation rose 0.4% from January to February, coming in right around forecasts. CPI also rose from 3.1% to 3.2% year over year, which was above the expected unchanged reading. Core CPI, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, increased 0.4% while the annual reading fell from 3.9% […]

March 13 is National Chicken Noodle Soup Day. Create the perfect comfort food with this quick and easy recipe from Allrecipes that yields six servings. In a large pot, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup each of chopped onion and chopped celery and cook until just tender, about five minutes. Add […]

Inflation will be the key story, with February’s Consumer Price Index releasing on Tuesday and the Producer Price Index (which measures wholesale inflation) on Thursday. The Fed will be watching these reports closely, given that January’s readings were hotter than expected. Also on Thursday, look for February’s Retail Sales and the latest Jobless Claims. Friday […]

Black Knight released their Home Price Index for January, and home values rose 0.2% from December. Prices were also 5.6% higher than in January 2023. CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index showed that national home values fell 0.1% from December to January. While this monthly figure was different than Black Knight’s, CoreLogic reported a slightly higher […]

The latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) showed that job openings declined slightly in January, falling from a downwardly revised 8.889 million in December to 8.863 million. The hiring rate dropped from 3.7% to 3.6% while the quit rate fell from 2.2% to 2.1%, suggesting there’s a lack of employers trying to entice […]

Applications for new unemployment benefits were unchanged in the latest week, as 217,000 Initial Jobless Claims were filed. Continuing Claims rose by 8,000, with 1.906 million people still receiving benefits after filing their initial claim. What’s the bottom line? Initial Jobless Claims are still relatively low, however the latest Job Cuts report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed that announced layoffs […]

ADP’s Employment Report showed that private payrolls grew less than expected in February, as employers added 140,000 new jobs versus the 150,000 that had been forecasted. Most of the hiring took place in the services sector and in businesses with more than 50 employees. What’s the bottom line? “Job gains remain solid. Pay gains are trending lower […]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that there were 275,000 jobs created in February, which was stronger than the 200,000 new jobs that had been forecasted. However, revisions to December and January cut 167,000 jobs in those months combined while the unemployment rate rose from 3.7% to 3.9%, marking the first increase since October. […]

The Case-Shiller Home Price Index, which is considered the “gold standard” for appreciation, showed home prices nationwide rose 0.2% from November to December after seasonal adjustment. Home values in December were also 5.5% higher than a year earlier, with S&P DJI’s Head of Commodities, Brian D. Luke, noting that the index “continued its streak of seven […]