Housing’s share of the economy rose to 16.1% in the first quarter of 2024. The share remained below 16% for all of 2023 at 15.9% in each of the four quarters. This increase to above 16% marks the first-time housing’s share of GDP is above 16% since 2022. In the first quarter, the more cyclical ..read more

As economist Milton Friedman once quipped, monetary policy has a history of operating with “long and variable lags.”[1] What Friedman was expressing is that it takes some time for the true effects of monetary policy, like the changing of the federal funds rate, to permeate completely through the larger economy. While some industries, like housing ..read more

Consumer confidence held steady in March, with optimism about current conditions offset by concerns about the future economic outlook. This pessimism was primarily driven by persistent inflation, especially elevated food and gas prices. The Consumer Confidence Index, reported by the Conference Board, stood virtually unchanged at 104.7 in March, the lowest level since November 2023 ..read more

The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee held the federal funds rate constant at a top target of 5.5% at the conclusion of its March meeting. The Fed will continue to reduce its balance sheet holdings of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities as part of quantitative tightening and balance sheet normalization. Marking a fifth consecutive meeting holding ..read more

The U.S. economy grew at a surprisingly strong pace in the fourth quarter, mainly fueled by resilient consumer spending. However, the fourth quarter data from the GDP report suggests that inflation is cooling. The GDP price index rose 1.5% for the fourth quarter, down from a 3.3% increase in the third quarter. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, which... Read More ..read more

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the third quarter of 2023. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the percent change in real GDP increase ranged from 9.7 percent in Kansas to 0.7 percent in Arkansas. Nationwide, growth in real GDP (measured on a seasonally adjusted annual rate basis)... Read More ..read more

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 44 states and the District of Columbia in the second quarter of 2023. Economic activity contracted in six states. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the percent change in real GDP increased ranged from 8.7 percent in Wyoming to -1.9 percent in Vermont. Nationwide, growth in real GDP, measured on a... Read More ..read more

The U.S. economy had remarkable growth in the third quarter of 2023, fueled by consumer spending. The GDP price index rose 3.5% for the third quarter, up from a 1.7% increase in the second quarter. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, capturing inflation (or deflation) across a wide range of consumer expenses and reflecting changes in consumer behavior, rose... Read More ..read more

The U.S. economy grew at a solid pace in the second quarter of 2023, fueled by consumer and government spending. The second quarter data from the GDP report suggests that inflation is cooling. The GDP price index rose 2.2% for the second quarter, down from a 4.1% increase in the first quarter. It marks the slowest annual growth rate since... Read More ..read more

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the first quarter of 2023. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the percent change in real GDP increased ranged from 12.4 percent in North Dakota to 0.1 percent in Alabama and Rhode Island. Nationwide, growth in real GDP, measured on a seasonally... Read More ..read more