It is a daily ritual for millions of Australians, but if you have noticed the price of your morning flat white or soy latte increase, brace yourself — it is likely to get worse.
By the end of the year,...
It is a daily ritual for millions of Australians, but if you have noticed the price of your morning flat white or soy latte increase, brace yourself — it is likely to get worse.
By the end of the year,...
The housing market is seeing record new home sales, but prices have fallen slightly. This is likely due to a lack of existing homes for sale, making new homes more attractive.
However, the manufacturing and service sectors are showing signs of weakness. This could lead to job losses and cause the Federal Reserve to slow its pace of interest rate hikes to stimulate the economy. The market reaction to this news has been mixed.
In recent weeks, first-time unemployment claims in the United States have consistently stayed at 212,000, sparking some concerns. However, officials attribute this stability to seasonal adjustments in the data. This indicates a steady jobs picture, with little volatility in unemployment over the past five weeks. The surprising consistency suggests that seasonal factors are effectively removing fluctuations from state data, providing a more accurate reflection of the labor market.
Inflation in the UK slightly eased from 3.4% to 3.2% in March, but it's still higher than expected. The core inflation rate, which excludes energy and food, was 4.2%, higher than the 4.1% forecast. This has led many investors to believe that inflation will take longer to fall than expected, and that the first interest rate cut by the Bank of England may happen later than June, as previously anticipated.
The US economy is not experiencing sufficient inflation to meet Federal Reserve goals. Therefore, interest rate cuts are unlikely. The current rate of inflation is above the Fed's target of 2%, and recent data suggests it will take longer than expected to achieve this goal.
Despite the cooling of wage growth nationwide, certain sectors, including legal, dental, child care, and medical information, are experiencing relatively strong earnings growth. The job market remains healthy, and this growth in specific sectors is a positive sign. While high wage growth may not necessarily translate to high salaries in all cases, it does provide opportunities for workers seeking higher earnings.
Mortgage rates have slightly increased to 7.34%, but their future direction depends on the labor market. Rising homeownership costs also include increasing insurance and taxes, especially in areas prone to natural disasters. While the housing inventory is improving, concerns have been raised about a change in commission arrangements for real estate agents, which may affect home sales.
The U.S. economy added a strong 303,000 jobs in March, with the lowest unemployment rate in over two years at 3.8%. Despite cooling slightly from the "great resignation" era, the job market remains healthy, with employers providing ample job opportunities and real wage growth for workers. This positive labor market outlook benefits both workers and the economy without signs of overheating.
The US job market is expected to continue growing in March, with around 200,000 new jobs created. However, recent revisions have raised concerns about the accuracy of initial job growth numbers. Economists will also be looking at the composition of the job growth and signs of potential weakening, such as a decline in full-time employment and an increase in part-time and temporary work.
The US economy created 303,000 jobs in March, exceeding expectations. The unemployment rate remained low at 3.8%, despite an increase in the participation rate. Wages rose 0.3% for the month, consistent with forecasts. Healthcare, government, hospitality, and construction sectors contributed significantly to job gains. Despite positive overall trends, the unemployment rate among Black individuals increased. The strong job market could influence the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates.
Black Americans' unemployment rate has jumped to 6.4% in March, largely due to a surge in joblessness among Black women, whose rate climbed to 5.6%. This increase is concerning, as it has been rising since December. The higher unemployment rate among Black workers persists despite an overall decline in the U.S. unemployment rate. Economists caution that continued monitoring of the situation is essential.
Private sector companies in the US added a significant number of workers in March, with wages increasing for both existing and new employees. Leisure and hospitality led the job growth, followed by construction and trade. The South added the most jobs regionally, while small businesses saw limited growth. This strong employment data suggests the labor market remains healthy.
The Federal Reserve will take time to decide when to lower interest rates as inflation remains high. Chairman Jerome Powell said they need "greater confidence" that inflation will consistently fall towards the Fed's target of 2%. While the economy is still strong, the Fed is waiting for more data to confirm the recent increase in inflation is temporary.
