270 Quotes by Ian Shepherdson

It signals that the labor market has now moved again to center stage in the Fed's analysis and policymaking process.

Nominal spending was held down by a 0.4% energy-induced plunge in the PCE deflator, so real spending rose a hefty 0.7%. A rebound in auto sales after the awful October was largely responsible for this.

Unfortunately, at current levels, and coupled with the extraordinarily low level of labor demand, the claims numbers are still consistent with flat or falling payrolls and a rising unemployment rate. There's no real relief in sight here yet.

There are currently more than a million displaced people, and I don't expect many of them to be back at work by the time of the September payroll survey.

Expectations had risen a bit too far, too fast, and were vulnerable to a correction; this is it.

It will profoundly damage Bush's ability to accomplish his legislative goals, ... drastic reforms of Social Security and Medicare, which would affect the state of public finances in the long run.

We remain relatively optimistic about the housing market, but we do accept that activity fell sharply in the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11,

Expectations are a leading indicator and are consistent with modest spending gains. Stronger stocks will push the index up further, and soon. This is a good report.

The wage story is gathering real momentum. The Fed is going to 5%, and more if housing does not collapse by mid-year.