North American companies send in the robots, even as productivity slumps
August 29, 20224:09 AM PDT Reuters by By Timothy Aeppel North American companies snapped up a record number of robots in the first half of this year as they struggled to keep factories and warehouses humming in the face of an extremely tight labor market and soaring compensation costs. Companies ordered a record 12,305 machines in the second […]
‘Inflation Fever’ Is Finally Breaking — But Central Banks Won’t Stop Hiking Rates
Sunday, August 28, 2022 02:30 PM Source: Bloomberg by Rich Miller and Enda Curran Global inflation is finally coming off the boil, even if it’s set to remain far too hot for the liking of the world’s central bankers. As economic growth slows, prices for key raw materials — from oil to copper and wheat — […]
US Consumer Sentiment Rises to Three-Month High on Easing Prices
Friday, August 26, 2022 07:00 AM Source: Bloomberg, by Olivia Rockeman US consumer sentiment rose more than expected in August as year-ahead inflation expectations eased, suggesting Americans are growing more optimistic as gas prices continue to drop. The University of Michigan’s final sentiment index climbed to 58.2, the highest since May, from 51.5 in July, […]
US Corporate Profits Soar, Taking Margins to Widest Since 1950
Thursday, August 25, 2022 08:42 AM Source: Bloomberg By Reade Pickert A measure of US profit margins has reached its widest since 1950, suggesting that the prices charged by businesses are outpacing their increased costs for production and labor. After-tax profits as a share of gross value added for non-financial corporations, a measure of aggregate […]
JPMorgan says the growth stocks rally has further to go — and explains when it will likely end
PUBLISHED SUN, AUG 21 20228:23 PM EDT Source: CNBC by Zavier Ong Investors have poured into growth stocks of late, but as recession fears mount, market watchers are weighing whether to rotate into safer bets instead. JPMorgan, however, believes the growth rally still has “further to go.” “We continue to think the rebound in growth […]
US Consumers Show Signs of Resilience Despite Raging Inflation
Wednesday, August 17, 2022 09:56 AM Source: By Reade Pickert and Brendan Case US consumers are standing firm in the face of hot inflation and rising interest rates — even if they’re spending with a little less gusto and a lot more frustration. Retail sales excluding a price-induced drop in gas station receipts and a drop […]
U.S. retail sales flat on gasoline price drop; consumer spending resilient
August 17, 20229:00 AM PDT Source: Reuters by Lucia Mutikani U.S. retail sales were unexpectedly unchanged in July as falling gasoline prices weighed on receipts at service stations, but consumer spending appeared to pick up at the start of the third quarter, further assuaging fears the economy was in a recession. Declining gasoline prices, however, […]
U.S. manufacturing production accelerates in July
August 16, 20226:52 AM PDT Source: Reuters Production at U.S. factories increased more than expected in July as output rose at motor vehicle plants and elsewhere, pointing to underlying strength in manufacturing despite ebbing business confidence. Manufacturing output rebounded 0.7% last month after declining 0.4% in June, the Federal Reserve said on Tuesday. Economists polled […]
US Consumer Sentiment Rises to Three-Month High on Outlook
Friday, August 12, 2022 07:09 AM By Olivia Rockeman Year-ahead inflation expectations fall; edge up longer-term University of Michigan sentiment index at 55.1 from 51.5 (Bloomberg) — US consumer sentiment rose in early August to a three-month high on firmer expectations about the economy and personal finances. Inflation expectations were mixed, with consumers boosting their longer-term […]
Microsoft Shares Rise on Upbeat 2023 Sales Growth Forecast
Tuesday, July 26, 2022 04:01 PM By Dina Bass Software giant eases concerns about demand, strong US dollar Quarterly results earlier missed analysts’ reduced estimates (Bloomberg) — Microsoft Corp. gave an upbeat sales forecast for the fiscal year that just began, easing investor concerns about growth that had flared up following a lackluster fourth-quarter earnings report. Shares […]