Christmas shone a light on the surge of interest in discount stores’ “private label” products—upmarket products from Costco, Target, Walmart, and similar chains that increasingly are taking shoppers away from pricier brand names.
Category: TRENDS ON THE U.S. ECONOMIC FRONT – Jan 7 2025
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TOP TREND 2023, OFFICE BUILDING BUST: COMPANIES FINALIZING POLICIES REGARDING REMOTE WORK
With the U.S. labor market settled into a normal balance and open jobs less plentiful, more employers are becoming more strict about white-collar workers putting in at least some of their work time at central offices.
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U.S. FACTORY ACTIVITY RISES TO NINE-MONTH HIGH IN DECEMBER
U.S. factories produced more and received more new orders in December as the Institute for Supply Management’s purchasing managers index (PMI) climbed to its highest level since last March.
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THE PRICE OF BREAKFAST IS STILL GOING UP
Whether your taste runs to scrambled eggs or just a cup of joe, your morning fuel is still costing you more.
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HOME-RELATED RETAILERS’ SALES WERE HAMMERED IN 2024
The lofty home prices and high interest rates that have restricted home sales have also cut revenues for home improvement and home furnishings businesses that depend on people buying and fixing up houses.
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RISING INSURANCE COSTS ARE MAKING HOMES EVEN LESS AFFORDABLE
Record-high home prices are not the only things making it harder to buy a home these days.
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HOME SALES ROSE IN NOVEMBER BUT SLUMPED IN DECEMBER
U.S. pending home sales—contracts signed for purchases—increased in November for the fourth consecutive month, rising to a level not seen since early 2023, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported.
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DELINQUENT CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS ARE ON THE RISE
Late-paying credit card accounts in the U.S. are more numerous than at any time since the 2008 financial crisis, the Financial Times reported, as low-income households have run out of financial reserves after more than two years of relentless inflation.
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CONSUMER CONFIDENCE SLIPPED IN DECEMBER
Last month, consumer confidence in the economy in 2025 fell unexpectedly, according to The Conference Board’s monthly survey.
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JOBLESS CLAIMS FEWEST IN EIGHT MONTHS
During the week ending 28 December, new claims for unemployment benefits fell by 9,000 from the week before, dropping to 211,000 and reaching their lowest number since May.
