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The Bureau of Economic Analysis this morning released a disappointing first estimate for the 2014 fourth-quarter real gross domestic product – the total value of this country’s finished goods and services. At 2.6 percent, it was roughly half of the 5.0 percent pace of growth in the third quarter. And it was about half a point below the consensus of analysts’ expectations. But despite the disappointing headlines, there were a couple of positive points within the details.
READ MOREChanging global oil market dynamics send prices tumbling, helping some while hurting others and shifting investment prospects.
READ MORELook for the Federal Reserve to be even more patient with raising interest rates amid this morning’s data showing that consumer prices were still quite tame.
READ MOREAs 2014 drew to a close, American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) economists and analysts took a step back to put major economic and financial events of the past year in context.
READ MORERecent data show that steady growth of the U.S. economy continues. After a disappointing first quarter of the year, gross domestic product posted healthy increases in the second and third quarters, at 4.6 and 3.5 percent annual rates.
READ MOREThe Great Recession of 2008-2009 will be remembered for its severity—a cumulative decline of 4.2 percent in real GDP, the loss of 8.7 million jobs, and a harsh toll on the banking system with more than 400 bank failures from 2008 to 2011. The Great Recession should also be remembered for the massive increase in the federal budget deficit it spawned.
READ MOREAs Labor Day marked the unofficial end of summer 2014 with backyard barbecues or long days at the beach, long gone were thoughts of the harsh winter and decline in first-quarter GDP. As we had expected it would, the U.S. economy rebounded in the second quarter, proving the naysayers, pessimists, and doom and gloom types completely wrong. In addition, U.S. equity markets continued to move higher throughout the summer, with many benchmarks hitting record highs. Twenty-fourteen was certainly no year to “sell in May and go away.”
READ MOREFifty years ago, the world was a different place. In 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, China detonated its first atomic bomb, Russian Premier Nikita Khruschev was deposed, and Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison. In the U.S., Lyndon Johnson received the democratic nomination for President, the Warren Commission’s report on the assassination of President Kennedy was released, New York hosted the World’s Fair, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, and the S&P 500 hit a peak of 86.28 in November.
READ MOREGas prices’ 15 percent jump in six months may be painful at the pump but is moderate by historical measures and not enough to derail the economic expansion.
READ MOREAn improving economy and favorable financial conditions suggest a positive outlook.
READ MORESingle-family housing recovery at risk from rising interest rates and restricted credit.
READ MOREWith the spring home-building season approaching, we expect the multi-family segment to be the strongest part of the housing market.
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