retail

As Expected, Housing Drags Down Retail Sales

May 11, 2007

When consumer spending slips, it can send shockwaves through the economy.  Consumer spending, after all, makes up 70% of the economy. The best measure of consumer spending data is Retail Sales, a monthly figure describing how much money Americans are spending, and where they’re spending it. Retail Sales unexpectedly fell in April and that would […]

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The Week In Review (May 7, 2007) : What To Watch For

May 7, 2007

Data painted a dismal picture for the economy last week including tempering inflation readings, slowing job growth, depressed home sale data, and ever-higher gasoline prices.  This gave markets hope that the Fed may start to ease up on the Fed Funds Rate. But, while the stock market rallied on the news, the bond market continued […]

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How Consumer Spending Changes Mortgage Rates

April 17, 2007

If the data is correct, the U.S. consumers keep doing what they do best — consume. Despite weak consumer confidence surveys, retail sales posted a 0.7% gain, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  This means that despite rising costs, Americans continue to fuel the economy. Speaking of fuel, a large reason for the unexpectedly large […]

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The Week In Review (February 12, 2007) : What To Watch For

February 12, 2007

Despite the dearth of economic news last week, mortgage rates staged somewhat of a rally.  By the time the week ended. mortgage rates had retreated by half of the prior week’s major run-up.  The week was not without fireworks, however.  In prepared remarks, Dallas Fed President Fisher dropped a hint about future Fed rate hikes […]

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It Was “Happy Holidays” for Retailers in December

January 12, 2007

For all of the talk about the slowdown in consumer spending, it appears that this Holiday Season was a winner.  This morning’s Retail Sales report doubled economists’ expectations by showing 1.0% growth. This is just one more inflationary pressure in the economy and makes it less likely that the Fed will lower the Fed Funds […]

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