Alan Greenspan's 1998 Statement Haunting Janet Yellen Today When Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan made a famous speech in 1998, no one knew how relevant it would be to Janet Yellen in 2015. Greenspan’s warning that the U.S. economy would suffer from global turmoil appears prophetic nearly two…
Unemployment numbers are the most eagerly anticipated data points in financial news, but the Federal Reserve doesn’t care as much as investors think. The decision to raise interest rates is a complex one, and Chairwoman Janet Yellen will consider a range of data on wage growth, labor force…
Lower oil prices are supposed to be a boon for the U.S. economy, but one look through the job numbers shows it could bring the country’s recovery to an abrupt halt. Only a few months ago, booming shale production from formations like the Eagle Ford and the Permian…
Youth unemployment hit a 33-year high in June, according to the latest data from the Italian national statistics office, signaling the troubled country and the wider eurozone area could be on the verge of economic collapse. It’s the disappointing unemployment rate that indicates the economic collapse would be…
The U.S. jobs report for June looks good. Or does it? On July 2nd, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its job market report for the month of June. With 221,000 jobs added and the unemployment rate as low as 5.3%, there seemed to be steady growth in…
Investors cheered on another strong U.S. jobs report. But beneath the surface, cracks in America’s economic recovery are beginning to appear. At first glance, the report appeared to be strong. Non-farm payrolls increased by 223,000 in June. The unemployment rate declined to 5.3%, the lowest rate in more…
Last Friday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in the month of May, 280,000 jobs were added to the U.S. economy. The unemployment rate was unchanged and stood at 5.5%. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 5, 2015.) If you just look at the current unemployment…
Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the number of job openings rose to 5.4 million on the last business day of April, the highest since the series began in December 2000. (Source: U.S Department of Labor, June 9, 2015.) April's numbers were up from five…
On Friday, June 5, 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 280,000 in May, and the unemployment rate rose to 5.5% from 5.4% in April. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 5, 2015.) Job gains took place in professional and…
According to David Doyle, an analyst at Macquarie Capital Markets, the U.S. economy could reach full employment within a year. My question is: is this all we need in order to say the U.S. labor market is strong? (Source: Bloomberg, May 14, 2015.) U.S. Economy: How Full Employment…
On Friday, May 8, 2015, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its employment report for April of this year. Total nonfarm employment saw a 223,000 increase, while the unemployment rate showed little change at 5.4%. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 8, 2015.) April Employment Report: Rosy…
In early April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a 126,000 increase in nonfarm jobs and an unemployment rate of 5.5%. Does this mean the U.S. economy is improving? (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 3, 2015.) The unemployment rate has certainly improved from its 10% standing…
If you think the U.S. economy is improving, this story says that, truth be told, it’s the complete opposite for the economy, as recent data suggest there is no growth. U.S. Economy’s Jobs Market Tormented In March of this year, only 126,000 jobs were added to the U.S.…
The U.S. Department of Labor released its latest weekly unemployment insurance claims data on March 26, 2015. Seasonally adjusted U.S. jobless claims fell again to 282,000, their lowest level since mid-February, and have been in decline since their peak level of 665,000 claims in March of 2009. Despite…
Don’t buy into the false optimism. While the mainstream media and economists are convinced there’s prosperity, I am concerned the U.S. economy will enter a recession in late 2015 or early 2016. The simple fact is that consumer spending is the biggest factor driving the U.S. economy, and…
There are issues brewing in the stock market with interest rates fears and the strengthening greenback that could drive the S&P 500 lower by five percent or more. When Will the Fed Increase Interest Rates? First, we have the fears surrounding rising interest rates after the strong improvement…
When Germany recently announced some underachieving economic numbers, it was a red flag for the eurozone and Europe. When the stronger of the two pillars in the eurozone (France being the other pillar) begins to show some fragility, you have to take a step back to evaluate the…
It’s finally over… The quantitative easing programs initially started by the Federal Reserve six years ago are (for now) history. In its statement on October 29, the Federal Reserve said, “Accordingly, the Committee decided to conclude its asset purchase program this month.” (Source: “FOMC Statement,” Federal Reserve, October…
On November 30, Switzerland’s citizens will cast a very critical vote. Through a referendum, they will vote for or against the Swiss National Bank increasing its gold bullion reserves to 20%, the central bank halting the selling of gold, and the storing of gold bullion in the country.…
Finally, some good news for the U.S. economy? Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 248,000 jobs were created in the U.S. economy in September, pushing the unemployment rate down to 5.9% from 6.1% the previous month. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 3, 2014.) The…
