Russell Sheldon
Russell Sheldon
awareness clue conditions economy fairly households people seen stock taken
Households have taken a clue from the drop-off in the stock market. The economy is weakening but not many of them have seen it in their own lives. Conditions are still fairly good, but there's a heightened awareness that the economy is at risk, and that can make people cautious.
adjusted christmas december far gain hiring october retail smallest wonder
Retail hiring between October and December was by far the smallest in years. We wonder if those 'not hired' for Christmas will 'not be let go,' as traditionally would happen, in January. If so, that will look like a gain in the seasonally adjusted numbers.
california conceptual economy equivalent fed global growth hot issue possible rather
With the U.S. economy hot and global growth accelerating, the issue of Fed tightening has become the conceptual equivalent of pondering a possible California earthquake. It's going to happen, but probably not tomorrow, and participants would rather not think about it.