ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Jul 17 2025BUSINESS

Why Americans Are Still Spending Despite Rising Prices

In June, Americans kept their spending habits going strong, even as prices started to climb due to new tariffs. The Commerce Department shared that retail sales grew by 0. 6% from May, bouncing back from a big drop in May. Experts expected a much smaller increase, so this was a pleasant surprise. Car dealerships saw a big boost, with sales jumping by 1. 2%. Restaura...

reading time about 1 minute
Jul 03 2025BUSINESS

Job Market Shifts: What's Really Happening?

The job market is showing signs of slowing down, and it's not just a blip. The private sector saw a drop in jobs last month, the first time this has happened in over two years. Economists had expected a gain, but instead, there was a loss of around 33, 000 jobs. This isn't because of mass layoffs, but because companies are hiring less and not replacing workers who le...

reading time about 1 minute
Jun 29 2025FINANCE

Stock Market's Rollercoaster Ride: A Closer Look at the Recent Recovery

The stock market has hit a new high, but it's not all smooth sailing. The S&P 500 has bounced back to its February peak, but the journey there has been anything but steady. The market's recovery has been swift, fueled by a wave of optimism that swept away the fears from the April tariff panic. But is this rally built on solid ground or just a temporary high? The mar...

reading time about 2 minutes
Jun 26 2025BUSINESS

Rail Traffic Takes a Summer Dip: What's Going On?

Rail traffic in the U. S. has been a mixed bag lately. While some goods are moving more than before, others are seeing a slowdown. This is especially true for intermodal transport, which involves moving goods in containers by rail. The numbers show that intermodal traffic has taken a hit, likely because fewer goods are being shipped from China to the U. S. For the w...

reading time about 1 minute
Jun 21 2025FINANCE

Market Moves: A Look at Friday's Winners and Losers

On Friday, the stock market saw some significant shifts, with certain companies standing out for better or worse. Accenture, a big name in professional services, saw its shares drop by 6. 9%. Why? Their bookings for the last quarter didn't meet what analysts were expecting. Even though their sales and profits were better than predicted, thanks to a boost from AI s...

reading time about 3 minutes
Jun 18 2025FINANCE

Stocks Tumble as Middle East Tensions and Economic Worries Collide

The stock market took a hit on June 17, 2025. Investors were worried about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Israel-Iran conflict had been going on for five days. This uncertainty made investors nervous, leading to a drop in stock prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 299. 29 points, or 0. 70%, closing at 42, 215. 80. The S&P 500 also saw a...

reading time about 2 minutes
Jun 17 2025FINANCE

The Fed's Tough Call: Tariffs and Rates

The Federal Reserve faces a tricky situation. The economy is doing pretty well, but there are some worrying signs. Inflation is going down, and unemployment is low, at 4. 2%. But here’s the twist: President Trump’s tariffs might make inflation go up and slow down growth. So, what’s the Fed to do? They’re likely to keep the key interest rate at 4. 4% for now. They’ll ...

reading time about 2 minutes
Jun 17 2025FINANCE

Retail Slump: Why May Saw a Dip in Consumer Spending

Consumer spending took a hit in May, with retail sales dropping by 0. 9\%. This decline was worse than the predicted 0. 6\% decrease, according to seasonally adjusted figures. The slowdown was largely due to a drop in gas sales and growing economic uncertainty. This dip followed a modest 0. 1\% decrease in April, adding to the overall unease caused by tariffs and geo...

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May 22 2025FINANCE

Spring Home Sales Hit a Snag

In April, the housing market took a hit. Sales of existing homes slowed down to a pace not seen since 2009. This drop happened despite a growing number of jobs in the economy. The slowdown is due to high interest rates and a lack of confidence among buyers. The National Association of Realtors reported that sales fell slightly from March to April. This drop was unexp...

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May 14 2025FINANCE

Tech Stocks Soar as Market Eyes Further Gains

Wednesday's trading session saw a slight uptick in stock prices, driven mainly by the tech industry. This rise comes as investors are hopeful about extending the market's recent recovery. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite saw gains of 0. 2% and 0. 7%, respectively. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a minor dip of 0. 1%. This week has been positiv...

reading time about 2 minutes