(The GDP and inflation data) won't prevent modest further easing, |
(These data are) bad news for (corporate profit) margins or future inflation -- or both, |
[Even so,] there is as yet no clear sign of a downturn in sales, despite the rise in mortgage rates over the past year, ... People are still shrugging off the rise in rates. |
[Greenspan] acknowledged unambiguously that there is not yet enough data to be sure growth has slowed in a sustained way, ... But his willingness to dig deep to find possible reasons why it might have suggests he is ready to wait before raising rates again. |
[His testimony] leaves us thinking that a June 25 easing is far from a done deal -- it will depend on the data, |
[The switch is] presumably to squash speculation that they are embarking on a new sequence of rate cuts, ... This is sensible -- they can always change their mind if they have to, but in the near term it will quiet the markets. It is also consistent with their medium-term view that the economy will indeed recover in the not-too-distant future. |
[This is] a significant downside shock, and perhaps a sign falling consumer sentiment is rattling companies, ... A further drop next month will see the [Federal Reserve] easing again. |
[To be sure,] it would be premature to argue this is the start of a new, hyper-weak trend in home sales, ... Nonetheless, these numbers do send an unambiguous signal that the housing market is now past its peak. |
[Tuesday's housing-start] numbers support our view that residential investment likely rose by about 5 percent [on an annual basis] in the fourth quarter -- perhaps enough to make the difference between positive and negative GDP, |
[Tuesday's housing-start] numbers support our view that residential investment likely rose by about 5 percent [on an annual basis] in the fourth quarter -- perhaps enough to make the difference between positive and negative GDP. |
[With today's report,] the chance of a 50-basis-point rate hike on the 16th has been increased, ... The report is unequivocal. |
A big headline drop was always in the cards after the weather-assisted surge in January, which hugely boosted retail activity. |
A clearer demonstration of the unpredictable havoc Easter plays with seasonal adjustments you could not hope to see, |
A serious downturn in housing activity will have to wait until there is a meaningful increase in mortgage rates, ... For that, we have to wait until payrolls take off and the Fed signals tighter policy. |
A strong U.S. corporate recovery is brewing right now -- this survey implies 4 percent gross domestic product growth, |