The Independent Market Observer

Monday Update: Initial Jobless Claims Set New Pandemic-Era Low

May 24, 2021

Last week saw a number of economic updates, with a focus on housing, the minutes from the Fed’s most recent meeting, and the weekly initial jobless claims report. This will be another busy week for updates, with news to come on consumer confidence in May and April’s durable goods orders and personal income and spending reports.

Continue reading → Leave a comment

Monday Update: Inflationary Pressure Picks Up in April

May 17, 2021

Last week saw a number of important data releases, with much of the focus falling on the April inflation reports showing prices rising by more than expected during the month. This will be another busy week for updates, with the housing sector and the minutes from the most recent Fed meeting serving as highlights.

Continue reading → Leave a comment

Monday Update: Pace of Hiring Slows in April

May 10, 2021

Last week saw a number of important economic updates, with a focus on business confidence in April and the recent jobs reports. The April employment report showed a slowdown in the number of new jobs added, but weekly unemployment claims fell to a new pandemic-era low by the end of the month. This will be another busy week, with updates to come on April’s inflation, retail sales, and industrial production, as well as a first look at consumer confidence in May.

Continue reading → Leave a comment

Monday Update (on Tuesday): Consumer Confidence Climbs in April

May 4, 2021

Last week saw the release of a number of important economic data reports. Better-than-expected consumer confidence and personal spending reports served as the week’s highlights. This week will be another busy one for news, with the focus on April’s business confidence and employment reports.

Continue reading → Leave a comment

Monday Update: Initial Jobless Claims Set New Pandemic-Era Low

April 26, 2021

Last week was relatively quiet on the economic update front, with only three major data releases. The weekly initial jobless claims and new home sales reports served as highlights. This week will be busier, with reports on first-quarter GDP growth, durable goods orders, and personal income and spending.

Continue reading → Leave a comment

Monday Update: Retail Sales Soar as Economic Recovery Accelerates

April 19, 2021

Last week saw the release of a number of important economic updates, with most reports pointing toward a continued acceleration in the pace of the economic recovery. Highlights included a surge in March’s retail sales and housing starts, as well as a new low for the number of weekly initial jobless claims. This week will be relatively quiet, with a focus on March’s home sales reports.

Continue reading → Leave a comment

Monday Update: Service Sector Confidence Surges to Record High

April 12, 2021

Last week saw a number of important economic updates, with a focus on March’s service sector confidence and producer inflation reports. Service sector confidence served as a highlight during the week, with the better-than-expected March report bringing the index to its highest level on record. This will be another busy week for updates, with a focus on March’s consumer inflation and retail sales reports and a look into consumer and home builder sentiment in April.

Continue reading → Leave a comment

Monday Update (on Tuesday): Labor Market Recovery Picks Up Steam

April 6, 2021

Last week saw a number of important economic updates, with results largely coming in above economist estimates. Highlights included better-than-expected results for March’s consumer and business confidence surveys and a much-better-than-expected March jobs report. This will be another busy week for updates, with a focus on international trade, the minutes from the most recent Fed meeting, and a look at producer inflation in March.

Continue reading → Leave a comment

Monday Update: Consumer Sentiment Surges in March

March 29, 2021

Last week saw the release of a number of important economic updates. February’s housing sales and durable goods orders reports continued to show the negative impact from winter weather during the month, but the recent initial jobless claims report and March’s consumer sentiment survey point toward potentially faster growth. This will be another busy week of updates, with a focus on consumer and manufacturer confidence as well as March’s employment report.

Continue reading → Leave a comment

Monday Update: February Storms Affect Economic Recovery

March 22, 2021

Last week saw the release of a number of important economic updates, including February’s retail sales and industrial production reports and a look into home builder confidence and new home construction. Many of the reports came in below expectations, driven in large part by the severe winter storms that affected much of the country throughout February. This will be another busy week for updates, with highlights to come on housing sales, durable goods orders, and personal income and spending.

Continue reading → Leave a comment

Subscribe via Email

Crash-Test Investing

Hot Topics



New Call-to-action

Conversations

Archives

see all

Subscribe


Disclosure

The information on this website is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation.

Certain sections of this commentary contain forward-looking statements that are based on our reasonable expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

The S&P 500 Index is a broad-based measurement of changes in stock market conditions based on the average performance of 500 widely held common stocks. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly in an index.

The MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australia, Far East) Index is a free float‐adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The MSCI EAFE Index consists of 21 developed market country indices.

One basis point (bp) is equal to 1/100th of 1 percent, or 0.01 percent.

The VIX (CBOE Volatility Index) measures the market’s expectation of 30-day volatility across a wide range of S&P 500 options.

The forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio divides the current share price of the index by its estimated future earnings.

Third-party links are provided to you as a courtesy. We make no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of information provided on these websites. Information on such sites, including third-party links contained within, should not be construed as an endorsement or adoption by Commonwealth of any kind. You should consult with a financial advisor regarding your specific situation.

Member FINRASIPC

Please review our Terms of Use

Commonwealth Financial Network®