President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced in a press briefing on Thursday that many schools across the US are ready to open again after months of closure as a preventive measure against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “Given these considerations, we believe many school districts can now reopen safely, …
Read More »US Home Sales Post New Record Increase
Home sales in the United States registered its highest rise on record last month, due to historically low mortgage rates, according to data by the National Association of Realtors, Reuters reported. Existing home sales in the US increased by 20.7% on a monthly basis to a seasonally adjusted annual rate …
Read More »US Jobless Claims Register 1.3 M in Week
A total of 1.3 million people have filed for unemployment benefits in the United States last week, according to data by the US Department of Labor on Thursday. The number beats market expectations of 1.25 million applications. However, the number showed a slight decline compared to the previous week, which …
Read More »California Begins Another COVID-19 Lockdown
The state of California began reapplying the lockdown announced on Monday by Governor Gavin Newsom. The new statewide directives will see all restaurants, bars, movie theaters, entertainment centers, zoos and museums close their indoor operations. In addition, the state is closing gyms and fitness centers, worship places, salons and barbershops, …
Read More »US Budget Deficit Surges to $864 B in June
The US federal budget deficit increased to $864 billion in June with increased spending on COVID-19 stimulus and relief programs coupled with reduced taxes, data by the US Department of Treasury showed. The year-to-date fiscal deficit stands at $2.7 trillion, Reuters reported. Expenditure increased by 223% to $1.1 trillion, a …
Read More »US Wholesale Inventories Down 1.2% in May
Wholesale inventories in the United States declined during the month of May by 1.2%, meeting market estimates. This comes after inventories increased by 0.2% in April, according to data by the US Department of Commerce. Wholesalers’ sales increased by 5.4% in May, after falling by 16.4% in April, Reuters reported. …
Read More »Daly: Higher Inflation Could be Good Thing
The President of San Francisco Federal Reserve, Mary Daly, said that the US labor market is in better shape she previously thought it might be, “but it’s nowhere close to where we need to be.” “I am assuming that we’ll level off at some level that’s not where we want …
Read More »USA: Pandemic Aid Saved 51.1 M Jobs
The US Department of Treasury and the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that government support to businesses helped save 51.1 million jobs or 84% of the small business workforce. A total of $521.4 billion of financing to employers have already been approved, as part of a $660 billion COVID-19 pandemic …
Read More »US Non-Manufacturing PMI Displays Recovery in June
The US non-manufacturing services sector activity showed a strong recovery during June, nearing a return to its levels before the COVID-19 pandemic. The ISM Non-Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for June increased to 57.1, compared to its reading in May at 45.4, and an expected reading of 50.1. This is …
Read More »IHS Markit: US Services Sector Showing Softer Contraction
Seasonally adjusted IHS Markit US Services Business Activity Index registered 47.9 at the end of the second quarter (Q2) of 2020. This comes after the index recorded a reading of 37.5 in May, thus, showing a softer rate of contraction in business activity across the US. The IHS Markit Composite …
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