Archive: Economic and Financial Digest
April 30, 2018 | Economic and Financial Digest
Consumer Retrenchment Not Alarming
As advertised, the economy is turning in an underwhelming performance in the first quarter, dragged down by soft consumer spending. Since households are the economy’s main growth driver, many are fretting that the nation’s third-longest expansion, about to enter its tenth year, is nearing the end of the road. There are troubling signs that typically […]
March 25, 2018 | Economic and Financial Digest
March 2018 Economic and Financial Digest
Once again, the economy is behaving like Lucy from the old Peanuts cartoon, removing the football just as Charlie Brown is about to kick it through the goal posts. Recall that the growth engine revved up last year, building momentum that appeared firmly set to carry over into 2018. But alas, the expected growth trajectory, […]
February 28, 2018 | Economic and Financial Digest
February 2018 Economic and Financial Digest
On January 21, the nation entered year two of the Trump administration. If year one is any indication, the rest of 2018 should be anything but boring. The president has a knack for stirring up headlines either intentionally or unintentionally, primarily through tweets and public comments. That said, the tumultuous political environment last year did […]
January 31, 2018 | Economic and Financial Digest
The Tortoise and the Hare
As the curtain descends on an eventful 2017, the spotlight shifts to a new year. The first act looks promising, as the economy is entering 2018 with considerable momentum. Consumers reopened their wallets and purses during the winter months after taking a breather in the third quarter. Households struck a festive chord in November and […]
December 31, 2017 | Economic and Financial Digest
The 2 Percent Solution
For the first time since 2014, the U.S. economy grew by 3.0 percent or better for two consecutive quarters. According to the Government’s first estimate released in October, GDP increased by a 3.0 percent annual rate in the third quarter, following a 3.1 percent advance in the second. Either the devastating hurricanes in August and […]