Economic Commentary

ECONOMY AND POLICY January 31, 2020 Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses the latest market data. There were no surprises from the Fed and the economic data. Investors remained concerned about the impact of the Wuhan coronavirus. By the end of the week, there were nearly 10,000 reported cases and more than 200 reported dead. The […]

Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses current economic conditions. Trade policy uncertainty, slower global growth, a decrease in energy exploration, and problems at Boeing had a negative impact on business fixed investment in 2019. So what’s different in 2020? The Phase 1 trade deal was a positive in the sense that it prevented tariffs on the […]

Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses the latest market data. The economic calendar was relatively thin and, for the financial markets, was superseded by concerns about the Wuhan coronavirus. Hundreds of millions of people travel in the extended Lunar New Year holiday. The virus is likely to have a significant negative impact on the Chinese economy […]

Job growth slowed last year, partly reflecting a tighter job market. However, wage growth, while higher in 2019, has remained moderate, much lower than one would expect given the low unemployment rate. Private-sector payrolls averaged a 162,000 monthly gain in 2019, down from 215,000 in 2018. However, next month’s benchmark revisions to the establishment survey […]