Industry analysts are expecting a bright start to second quarter auto sales, with April generating a seasonally adjusted annual sales rate (SAAR) of up to 14.5 million vehicles. While showing a decrease from last months’ total sales of 1.4 million – data collected by Truecar.com estimates 1,195,809 vehicles sold, a solid 3.4 percent increase over …
By Julie Strickland The consumer-spending boom isn’t over, but it is on shaky ground. Salaries and wages are expected to reflect a continued increase for the month of March, but a modest one of around 2.5 percent. Consumer spending will grow around 0.6 percent, a solid but smaller rise than February’s 0.8 percent jump. Consumers …
Home prices are expected to decline for the sixth month in a row, as housing continues to be a drag on the post-recession recovery. A survey of 31 economists polled by Bloomberg predicted that home prices through February 2012 will fall by 3.4 percent compared to this time last year. Standard and Poor’s/ Case-Shiller home price …
By Orlando Rodriguez Market watchers should expect that today’s Existing Home Sales report will show gains in the nation’s real estate sector, a result of low home prices and record low interest rates. After posting slightly lower sales totals in February, this month looks to be more promising, as delayed contracts are expected to close …
By Casey Quinlan After a few weeks of steady drops, jobless claims reached a two-month peak last week, signaling this week’s claims may be higher than in the past few weeks. The news of sharply rising jobless claims last week combined with a disappointing March unemployment report are indications that the jobs sector is …
B y Mariya Pylayev Retail sales likely experienced a modest increase in March, following suit with recent slower-than-expected job growth. Retail sales are predicted to rise 0.3 percent, according to a Bloomberg survey of 71 economists. The forecast follows a 1.1 percent increase in February, when unseasonably warm weather lured shoppers out of their homes …
The trade deficit for February is expected to narrow slightly from the previous month. While purchases of petroleum products will add red ink to the balance sheet, a sharp drop in imports from China could provide deficit relief. The average forecast in a Bloomberg survey of 70 economists put the deficit at $51.6 billion. The …
By Anika Anand March inflation numbers that will be released Friday will likely show a .3 percent increase in the total price of goods and services. This means the economy is on a path to recovery and the Federal Reserve will continue to stand by its stimulus policy of near-zero interest rates. Gas prices will …
By Anika Anand The thought of health insurance is a huge source of anxiety for New Yorker Cayte Grieve. After the small business owner realized she would have to pay about $15,000 out of pocket to treat a jaw infection, she considered dental insurance. But after she discovered the monthly premiums would be more …
The U.S. economy added 120,000 jobs in March, the smallest addition since Oct. 2011. Despite the paltry job gains, the unemployment rate dropped slightly from 8.3 percent to 8.2 percent. March’s job numbers landed much lower 203,000 jobs economists predicted. For the past 3 months, the economy added an average of 246,000 jobs. Economists did …
