Economy in Brief: 2021

The OECD leading economic indicators are a set of indicators established to predict the economy's future performance. The OECD prefers the signal of change over six months. The indexes themselves are constructed relative to ‘normalcy' [...]

• Gasoline prices continue to rise prior to the potential effects of the Colonial Pipeline shutdown. • Crude oil prices also continue to rise. • Natural gas prices strengthen. The price of retail gasoline rose 7 cents to $2.96 a [...]

• Incomes boosted in March by another round of government stimulus payments. • Both prices and mortgage rates rise in March. The National Association of Realtors' Fixed Rate Mortgage Housing Affordability Index increased 1.3% in March [...]

• Optimism rebounds to highest level since November. • Improved optimism is widespread amongst survey categories. • Pricing power improves greatly. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reported that its Small [...]

Baltic dry index points to more international freight demand Export trends show only four of eleven of these countries with exports higher over 12 months as of February. However, over six months, 10 of eleven countries show net export [...]

• Framing lumber prices lead recent gains. • Metals prices move broadly higher. The Industrial Materials Price Index, from the Foundation for International Business and Economic Research (FIBER), jumped 7.1% during the four weeks [...]

• Growth is driven by nonrevolving credit usage. • Revolving credit balances continue to rise as well. Consumers are confident enough to take on more debt. Consumer credit outstanding strengthened $25.8 billion during March after [...]

• Weakness in hiring is broad-based. • Average hourly earnings rebound, reversing March decline. • Unemployment rate edges up from twelve-month low. Strength in the labor market waned following the initial lift from business re- [...]