Tag Archives: Economic

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets followed Wall Street higher Thursday after Japan and South Korea reported unexpectedly strong economic data and President Joe Biden announced a $ 2.3 trillion U.S. infrastructure spending plan. Market benchmarks in Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney advanced. Japan’s closely watched Tankan survey found …

The numbers: The initial reading of consumer sentiment jumped to 83 in early March, according to an index produced by the University of Michigan. That is the highest level in a year. Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal had forecast the index would rise to 78.9. What happened: The …

The U.S. added a robust 379,000 jobs in February and the economy is primed to take off, but improved growth prospects might come with a cost in the short run. In a word, inflation. Make no mistake, inflation is still very low right now and it has been for the …

The numbers: American manufacturers grew in February at their fastest pace since the onset of the pandemic and are increasingly optimistic about the economy, a closely followed survey showed. The Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index climbed to a two-year high of 60.8% last month from 58.7% in January. …

The numbers: Americans are still unsure how rapidly the U.S. economy will recover from the pandemic and restore millions of jobs that have been lost even as the rate of vaccinations speeds up, a new survey showed. The final reading of consumer sentiment in February inched up to 76.8 points …

The numbers: Sales of newly built homes occurred at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 923,000 in January, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Wednesday. That was 4.3% above the upwardly-revised pace of 885,000 in December. Analysts polled by MarketWatch had projected new-home sales to occur at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 850,000. Compared …

The numbers: The flash reading of the IHS Markit U.S. composite purchasing managers index rose to 58.8 in February from 58.7 in the prior month. Any reading over 50 indicates improving conditions. It is the strongest reading in almost six years. What happened: The index for services rose to 58.9 …

The numbers: New applications for U.S. unemployment benefits rose in mid-February to a four-week high of 861,000, showing lots of Americans are still losing their jobs nearly a year after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Initial jobless claims filed traditionally through the states rose by 13,000 to 861,000 in …

The U.S. factory sector is showing solid momentum going into 2021, with orders rising for eighth straight months. Orders for manufactured goods rose 1.1% in December after a 1.3% gain in the prior month, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal were expecting a 0.7% …