Consumer confidence in the US improved sharply in March with the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index rising to 109.7 from 90.4 in February. This reading beat the market expectation of 96.9 by a wide margin. Further details of the publication showed that the Present Situation Index jumped to 110 from …
Read More »U.S. Financial Regulators Explore AI Usage in Sector
Regulators of the banking sector in the United States are investigating the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) by financial institutions, Reuters reported. The regulators announced that they are seeking feedback on the rising use of AI by banks and other institutions for various purposes.
Read More »US Bond Yields Are Colored in Red
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.64% on Monday, remaining below 14-month highs of 1.75% reached early in the month as the bond market appears to be flat. Investors have digested mixed economic data and tame inflation, the outlook for a brighter economic outlook for the …
Read More »U.S. Consumer Sentiment Improves in March
Consumer sentiment in the United States continued to rise in March, reaching its highest level in a year, data by the University of Michigan showed on Friday. The Index of Consumer Sentiment improved by 10.5% to 84.9 in March, from 76.8 in February. However, it declined on an annual basis …
Read More »US: Real GDP Expands by 4.3% in Q4
The United States’ Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded at an annual rate of 4.3% in the fourth quarter, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on Thursday. This reading came in better than the previous estimate and market expectation of 4.1%.
Read More »Yellen: Full Employment Could be Achieved Next Year
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen believes that the recently approved huge stimulus package is exactly what the American economy needed. Speaking in a virtual hearing by members of the House of Representatives, Yellen expected strong recovery from the negative economic impact of the pandemic. “With the passage of the rescue …
Read More »U.S. New Home Sales Decline 18% in February
New home sales in the United States declined by 18.2% in February to 775,000, compared with their level in January, data by the U.S. Census Bureau showed on Tuesday. On an annual level, new home sales rose by 8.2% last month, compared with their level in February 2020. Data further …
Read More »The US Current Account Deficit Jumps to a 12-Year High in 2020
The current account deficit in the United States accelerated to a 12-year high in 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic severely affected the flow of goods and services. The US Commerce Department said the current account deficit, which measures the flow of goods, services, and investments into and out of the …
Read More »U.S. Existing Home Sales Decline in February
Existing home sales in the United States declined in February by 6.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.22 million units, data by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) showed on Monday. Home resales increased by 9.1% compared with its level in the same period last year. The decline …
Read More »U.S. Coal Exports Decline by 26% in 2020
The United States coal exports declined by 26% to 69 million metric short tons (MMst) in 2020, from 93 MMst in 2019, according to recent data by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Data also showed that four out of the top 10 U.S. coal exporters increased their imports in …
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