The Independent Market Observer

Monday Update: January Jobs Report Surges Past Expectations

February 7, 2022

Last week’s important economic data releases included January’s business confidence and employment reports. The January jobs report was a highlight, as it showed the economy added significantly more jobs than expected throughout the end of 2021 and start of 2022. Among the updates to come this week, the focus will be on international trade, consumer prices, and consumer sentiment.

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Monday Update: Economic Growth Accelerates in Q4 2021

January 31, 2022

There were a number of important economic updates last week, with a focus on consumer confidence, the Fed’s January meeting, and the advanced estimate of fourth-quarter GDP growth. The first look at GDP growth in the fourth quarter was a highlight, as the report showed that the economic recovery picked up speed to finish out the year. This will be another busy week of updates, with reports on business confidence and January employment serving as highlights to come.

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Monday Update: Existing Home Sales Hit 15-Year High in 2021

January 24, 2022

Last week saw the release of a number of important economic updates, with a focus on the housing sector. The existing home sales report was a highlight, as sales of existing homes showed notable year-over-year growth in 2021. This week will be busy once again. The highlights to come include reports on consumer confidence, the results from the January FOMC meeting, and the first look at fourth-quarter GDP growth.

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Monday Update (on Tuesday): Retail Sales Slide to End the Year

January 18, 2022

There were a number of important economic data reports last week, with a focus on December’s inflation and retail sales reports. Retail sales came in well below expectations, as inflation and the Omicron variant weighed on spending during the month. This will be another busy week for updates, with a focus on the housing sector.

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Monday Update: December Job Growth Comes In Below Expectations

January 10, 2022

We received a number of important economic data releases last week, with a focus on business confidence, the international trade report, and the December jobs report. Fewer jobs than expected were added in December, although improvements to the household survey and participation rate caused the unemployment rate to fall notably to end the year. This week will be packed with updates, with reports to come on December inflation, retail sales, and industrial production, as well as consumer sentiment to start January.

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Monday Update: Busy Week of Updates Ahead

January 3, 2022

There were no major economic data releases last week. This week, however, we’ll see a number of important updates to start the new year. The focus will be on business confidence, the minutes from the most recent Fed meeting, the international trade report, and the December employment report.

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Monday Update: Consumer Confidence Improves to End the Year

December 27, 2021

Last week saw a number of important economic updates, with a focus on consumer confidence, existing home sales, durable goods orders, and personal income and spending. Consumer confidence improved by more than expected to finish out the year, which is a positive sign for year-end spending reports. There are no major economic data releases scheduled for this week, but we’ll see a number of updates in the first week of the new year.

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Monday Update: Retail Sales Growth Slows in November

December 20, 2021

There were a number of important economic data releases last week, with a look at producer inflation, retail sales, home builder confidence, new home construction, industrial production, and the results from the most recent Fed meeting. This will be another busy week of updates, with reports scheduled on consumer confidence, housing sales, durable goods orders, and personal income and spending.

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Monday Update: Consumer Prices Rise in November

December 13, 2021

There were only a few major economic data releases last week, with a focus on international trade, consumer prices, and consumer confidence. Consumer inflation came in slightly above economist expectations in November, while confidence increased by more than expected to start December. This will be a much busier week of updates, with reports scheduled on producer inflation, retail sales, home builder confidence, new home construction, and industrial production. Economists will also be closely monitoring the results from the Fed’s December meeting.

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Monday Update: Job Growth Slows in November

December 6, 2021

Last week saw a number of important economic data releases, with a focus on consumer and business confidence and the November employment report. The jobs report showed a notable slowdown in headline job growth in November, although the month’s underlying data was more encouraging. This week will be relatively quiet, with only three major data releases scheduled. They will cover international trade, consumer inflation, and a first look at consumer sentiment in December.

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