The rebound in inflation in January was driven by an increase in prices for food, fuel, and passenger cars. Elevated shelter continues to drive most of the inflation and underscored the Fed's reluctance to deliver additional rate cuts in the imminent future.
Wall Street indexes were little changed after nonfarm payrolls increased at a slower pace in January, but wage growth in the month stayed sharply ahead of the Fed's inflation goals.
The U.S. international trade deficit expanded in November after goods imports surged at a faster pace than imports. The service surplus hovered near record monthly highs in November.
New home sales in November advanced but stayed well below the five-year average. The median and average sale prices dropped to new lows over the three years to the months.
Existing home sales in November rose at the fastest pace in over three years as the U.S. economy adds new jobs, buyers adjust to higher mortgage rates, and median home prices continue to advance.
The Federal Reserve lowered the overnight lending rate range by 25 basis points and signaled possible fewer rate cuts in 2025. The monetary policy committee raised its economic growth and inflation estimate but trimmed its unemployment rate estimate.
For years, the Federal Reserve has been reminding investors that the central bank is committed to bringing down inflation to 2%, but policymakers continue to pursue less than restrictive monetary policy.
Affordability and two hurricanes in the South impacted the overall housing market activities in October. New home sales plunged at the fastest pace in 11 years and dropped to the level last seen in October 2022.
U.S. goods trade deficit expanded with the European Union, China, Mexico, and Vietnam as imports of passenger cars, computing equipment, advanced chips, and pharmaceuticals rose in September.
