Here is a look at the most recent unemployment figures. The number of initial jobless claims has decreased to 194k, which comes in lower than the expected 200k as well as the previous mark of 200k, a number that was recently revised upward from 199k. At the same time, continuing claims climbed to 1.728M. This total is higher than the anticipated estimate of 1.71M and the prior count of 1.703M, a figure that had been revised downward from 1.71M. When breaking down the regional data, the most notable claim increases took place in OH with an addition of 3.9k, TN with a rise of 3.5k, and PA going up by 2k. In contrast, the largest reductions were observed in NV with a drop of 444, IL falling by 148, and HI decreasing by 122.
A recent poll conducted by the National Institute on Retirement Security sheds light on the main reasons non-retired Americans struggle to build their nest eggs. The data reveals that 41% of these individuals point to paying off debt as the primary barrier stopping them from increasing their retirement savings. Right on the heels of that figure, 39% of respondents blame high housing costs for their inability to put additional money away for the future.
At the close of 2Q26, retirement assets in the U.S. accumulated to a total of $51.2 trillion, based on information from ICI. The data highlights that IRAs represented the largest category of these savings, making up $19.1 trillion of the broader market. @DataArbor
Over the past week, mortgage rates experienced a minor decrease, which is illustrated in the top section. Despite this helpful shift, the volume of mortgage applications still dropped by 5.3%, as shown at the bottom. This recent reduction officially marks the seventh consecutive weekly decline in application numbers.
Based on projections from the @USDA Economic Research Service, U.S. net farm income is anticipated to experience a downturn in 2026 due to steadily climbing operational expenses.
La relación inversa entre el petróleo crudo Brent y el S&P 500 sigue siendo bastante marcada. Actualmente, la correlación móvil de 60 días entre estos dos mercados se mantiene en terreno profundamente negativo y continúa cayendo, alcanzando nuevos mínimos de varios años.
During August, the United Kingdom reached a historic milestone as its ownership of U.S. Treasuries crossed the $1 trillion mark for the very first time. Meanwhile, Japan maintained its status as the leading global holder of these American bonds, keeping the top spot even after scaling back its portfolio for a fourth consecutive month.
During the month of September, the data for housing starts revealed a downward trend across the board. Construction on single-family residences, which are indicated in blue, saw a decrease of 4.6%. Meanwhile, the development of multifamily units, highlighted in orange, experienced a drop of 7.2%.
Pending home sales experienced a significant downturn during September. The year-over-year growth rate dropped to -12.7%, showing a steep decline compared to the -2.9% reported for the previous month. Consequently, this latest data point registers as the weakest reading observed in three years.
The most recent @philadelphiafed survey features a special question that provides valuable insight into upcoming business investments. Looking ahead to 2027, 44% of nonmanufacturers anticipate an increase in their capital spending. These funds are slated to go primarily toward software, noncomputer equipment, and computer-related hardware. Meanwhile, one-quarter of the surveyed firms intend to decrease their capex.
During October, the price components of the @philadephiafed Services Index shifted in contrasting ways. The metric for prices paid increased by 4 points, hitting its highest reading since April. At the same time, the gauge for prices received decreased by 11 points, bringing it down to its lowest reading since April.