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Showing 191 - 200 of 967 results for "Unemployment rate"

Chief economist update: It's the US consumer, stupid me

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 12 FEB 2020
... from the rise and rise in the US equity market - the S&P 500 index hit another record high overnight - and the unemployment rate just one tick above the 50-year low of 3.5%, that means more Americans participating in the 401(k) retirement plan, that ...

Chief economist update: UK is now Bailey's baby

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 11 FEB 2020
... depreciation post-Brexit referendum); the FTSE-100 index has gained by 18.4% since July 2013 to date; and, the unemployment rate has dropped from 7.7% (June 2013) to a 45-year low of 3.8%. In his final BOE meeting, Carney remains hopeful, expecting "an ...

Chief economist update: It's a holiday for the Fed

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 31 JAN 2020
... GDP growth accelerated at an annualised quarterly rate of 2.1% in December 2019 (from 1.1% in 2018) and the unemployment rate dropped to a 50-year low of 3.5% (from 3.9%). Not to mention, Wall Street's surge to record highs. However, inflation continues ...

Chief economist update: Strength in jobs downs RBA rate cut expectations

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 24 JAN 2020
... seasonally adjusted 28,900 in December that followed the addition of 38,500 jobs in the previous month. The unemployment rate declined to 5.1% from 5.2% in November. The same thing happened on the way to the strong November jobs report (released last ...

Chief economist update: Fundamentally overvalued

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 17 JAN 2020
... those two years averaged 3.6% (compared with the latest reading of 1.7%); headline inflation at 2.9% (1.7%); the unemployment rate at 4.6% (5.2%); wages growth at 4.1% (2.2%); and, retail spending at 6.8% (3.3%). The Australian equity market (pre-GFC) ...

Chief economist update: A busy 2020 for Abe, BOJ

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 14 JAN 2020
... confidence." "In response, the government is providing significant support. Despite recent weakness in activity, the unemployment rate remains near multidecade lows, labor force participation continues to climb, and per capita income growth remains healthy." ...

Chief economist update: Moving target

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 8 JAN 2020
... show that half of its dual mandate - full employment and stable (2% target) inflation - is responding. The US unemployment rate is at a 50-year low of 3.5% (November 2019) but inflation as measured by the Fed's preferred inflation gauge - the PCE ...

Chief economist update: More jobs dull rate cut bets

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 20 DEC 2019
... market expectations for an increase of 14,000 as both full-time and part-time positions gained. Likewise, the unemployment rate declined to 5.2% from 5.3% in October, with the participation rate from steady at 66.0%. It's therefore not surprising ...

Chief economist update: It's Christmas time in the city

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 9 DEC 2019
... and October employment numbers, bringing the three-month average growth in jobs to 205,000 (up by 29,000). The unemployment rate dropped back to a 50-year low of 3.5% from 3.6% in November. Optimistic consumers who have jobs will spend. While the annual ...

Chief economist update: The Grinch steals Christmas

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 4 DEC 2019
... reached a gentle turning point" - backed up by its 2021 central scenario for the economy to grow by 3%, the unemployment rate to improve "a little below 5%", and inflation "expected to be close to 2%". The RBA's optimistic outlook is predicated on ...