The measure of wholesale inflation eased in September from the previous month but accelerated for the third month in a row after gasoline prices rebounded.

The U.S. economy added jobs at the fastest pace in September since January after employers in hospitality and healthcare and governments at all levels added jobs above annual rates.

U.S. Trade Deficit Dropped to 3-year Low

Oct 5, 2023
Brian Turner
The U.S. international trade deficit dropped to the lowest level since March 2020 after exports rose to a five-month high and imports fell on weaker demands for cell phones, semiconductor chips and petroleum products.

The number of job openings rebounded in August and the openings rose in professional and business services, financial services and federal, state and local governments.

Manufactured durable goods orders advanced in August, and increased in five of the last six months and shipments increased in three of the last four months. Non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircrafts rebounded after declining in the previous month.

New home sales declined at the fastest pace in 11 months in August after elevated home prices and mortgage rates kept buyers away.

The Federal Reserve left the fund funds rate range unchanged for the second time in a row but left a door open for another rate hike before the year's end.



Elevated home prices and a surge in mortgage rates pushed housing starts down in August after buyers struggled with home affordability.

Overall inflation in August accelerated for the second month in a row after gasoline prices soared from the previous month but core inflation slowed to the lowest pace in nearly two years.

Imports rose at a slightly higher pace than exports and drove the trade deficit higher by 2% after the goods deficit rose more than service surplus.

Seasonally adjusted sales, but not for prices, rose in July from the previous month and from the year earlier after consumer spending held up despite rising prices and multiple rate hikes.

Consumer price inflation accelerated in July but core inflation edged slightly lower after wages and food prices rose at a slower pace but shelter costs rose at elevated levels.

GDP expanded at a faster pace in the second quarter, driven by business investment and resilient consumer spending despite elevated prices. Much of the economy is escaping the sharp increase in interest rates over the last sixteen months.

New orders for durable goods rose at the fastest pace in June from the previous month in nearly three years after demand for transportation equipment and aircraft soared.



Seasonally adjusted housing permits, starts and completions decline in June from May.