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Annual wage gain of 3.2% matches fastest pace since 2009 U.S. employers added the most workers in 10 months as wage gains accelerated and labor-force participation jumped, reflecting a robust job market that nevertheless faces mounting risks in 2019. [Extracted from the article]

Companies added the most workers in almost two years to U.S. payrolls in December, exceeding forecasts and signaling that the job market was solid as 2018 came to an end. Payrolls in goods-producing industries, which include builders and manufacturers, increased 47,000 after a 13,000 rise while service providers added 224,000 workers following 144,000 in November. [Extracted from the article]

A measure of consumer expectations fell to a two-year low while the share of people expecting more jobs in the next six months decreased to 16.6 percent from 22.7 percent, the biggest drop since 1977. Despite the steep fall in employment expectations, consumer perceptions about the current state of the job market remain upbeat. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. filings for unemployment benefits decreased for the third time in four weeks, hovering near an almost five-decade low that reflects a robust job market. Jobless claims fell by 1,000 to 216,000 in the week ended Dec. 22, matching the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists and following a revised reading of 217,000 for the prior week, Labor Department figures showed Thursday. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. breakeven rates have tumbled amid recent market turmoil While economists also have a somewhat less robust growth outlook for 2019 compared with this year, surveys shows they remain optimistic that the pace of inflation will hold firm around the Fed's 2 percent goal. The most recent figures on the Fed's preferred price gauge -- tied to personal consumption expenditures -- and the so-called core PCE, which excludes food and energy, showed the annual gain remained a little under the central bank's 2 percent target. [Extracted from the article]

Consumption -- which accounts for about 70 percent of the economy -- rose more than forecast in November, a Commerce Department report showed Friday, while consumer sentiment improved in December. The Fed's preferred headline inflation gauge -- tied to consumption -- rose 1.8 percent last month from a year earlier, Commerce figures showed. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. consumer spending rose more than forecast in November and the prior month was revised higher, a sign the biggest part of the economy is again poised to drive growth this quarter. The economy expanded at a 3.4 percent annualized rate in the third quarter, with consumption advancing 3.5 percent, according to gross domestic product data released earlier on Friday. [Extracted from the article]

Non-military capital-goods orders excluding aircraft -- a proxy for business investment -- dropped 0.6 percent, after an upwardly revised 0.5 percent increase the prior month, Commerce Department figures showed Friday. Figures used to calculate gross domestic product also showed a loss of momentum: Shipments of non-military capital goods excluding aircraft fell 0.1 percent, also missing estimates for a gain, after an upwardly revised increase. A separate report Friday from the Commerce Department showed third-quarter GDP grew at a 3.4 percent annualized rate, revised from 3.5 percent and still amounting to the fastest two-quarter growth performance since 2014. [Extracted from the article]

Greenspan: I've Never Seen Politics "Remotely Close" to Today's Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said the current state of U.S. politics is unlike anything he's seen. The former Fed chief's comments come amid pressure on the central bank from President Donald Trump, who wanted policy makers to hold off on raising interest rates on Wednesday. [Extracted from the article]

The amount of offshore cash corporations are bringing back to the U.S. dropped sharply for a second straight quarter, falling short of the trillions of dollars President Donald Trump had promised would result from his tax overhaul. The tax overhaul signed into law by Trump last December gave companies incentives to bring money back to the U.S. by lowering the tax rate on repatriated profits. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. new-home construction rebounded last month to the best pace since August while permits rose to a seven-month high, a sign homebuilding is potentially stabilizing even as higher prices and borrowing costs pose headwinds. Residential starts rose 3.2 percent to a 1.26 million annualized rate, exceeding forecasts, after a 1.22 million pace in the prior month that was revised down slightly, government figures showed Tuesday. Starts exceeded the 1.23 million forecast in Bloomberg's survey of economists, while October's were revised down to a 1.22 million pace from 1.23 million. [Extracted from the article]

November gains follow upwardly revised numbers for October Americans took advantage of lower fuel prices and Black Friday sales that kicked off the holiday-shopping season last month, setting up household consumption for a stronger-than-expected quarterly increase following what were already the best back-to-back gains in four years. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. factory production was unchanged in November and the prior month's reading was revised to a decline from a gain, a sign the industry may be taking a breather while still growing at a pace that supports economic growth. Factory output was unchanged after a 0.1 percent decrease that was revised from a 0.3 percent gain, Federal Reserve data showed Friday. Production of motor vehicles and parts rose 0.3 percent, in sync with industry reports showing vehicle sales remain strong. [Extracted from the article]

Core CPI rises 2.2% from year earlier following 2.1% gain "Risks to the Fed's inflation outlook are weighted to the downside" amid falling energy costs and sliding price expectations, which indicate that "inflation isn't going to create any more sense of urgency for future hikes", he said. The annual core CPI increase was higher than the 2.1 percent reported for October, though overall CPI inflation slowed to 2.2 percent from 2.5 percent. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. chief financial officers expect a recession as soon as next year, adding to signs that the outlook is souring among businesses and consumers amid a trade war and volatile financial markets. While about 49 percent of respondents see an economic downturn by the end of 2019, 82 percent expect that a recession will have begun by the end of 2020, the Duke University/CFO Global Business Outlook fourth-quarter survey showed Wednesday. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. producer prices rose in November on advances in foods and transportation services, while a measure of underlying costs accelerated, offering some potential signs of inflation pressures bubbling up in the economy. Service prices in the PPI were boosted by higher margins at wholesalers and retailers, though much of it came from fuels and lubricants retailing with a 25.9 percent increase, the most since 2010. While the consumer price index -- due Wednesday -- is considered a more important indicator of inflation, data on producer prices help provide insights into the direction of costs that businesses are facing. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. job openings rebounded in October, exceeding the number of unemployed workers by 1 million, indicating demand for workers was strong before November's slowdown in payroll gains. The number of positions waiting to be filled rose by 119,000 to 7.08 million, after a downwardly revised 6.96 million in the prior month, according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey or JOLTS, released by the Labor Department on Monday. Even with the decline in the quits rate, the results indicate workers are still willing to voluntarily leave because they're confident of finding better employment or benefits elsewhere. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. consumer debt rose in October by the most in almost a year and topped estimates, indicating Americans were stepping up borrowing to finance purchases. Credit-card and other revolving debt rose by the most in 11 months and non-revolving credit also increased. The central bank's consumer credit report doesn't track debt secured by real estate, such as home equity lines of credit and home mortgages. [Extracted from the article]

High school graduates with no college education saw their unemployment rate fall to 3.5 percent, which was not only the lowest in this economic expansion but also the best showing since December 2000, according to Friday's Labor Department figures. In another sign that the tight job market is helping those who are relatively less skilled, the jobless rate also declined for Americans who lack a high school diploma. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. consumer sentiment exceeded analyst estimates as low unemployment and growing incomes kept Americans in an upbeat mood, though the outlook soured amid concern that the labor market will soften. The University of Michigan's preliminary December sentiment index was unchanged from November at 97.5 and compares with the median estimate of 97 in a Bloomberg survey of economists, according to data released Friday. [Extracted from the article]

Just when you thought U.S. inflation was stabilizing around the Federal Reserve's 2 percent goal, it's getting pulled back down again. While households benefit from contained inflation and will find comfort in lower fuel costs, the Fed tends to be wary of subdued longer-term price expectations taking hold. [Extracted from the article]

Contract signings to purchase previously-owned U.S. homes unexpectedly fell by the most since January, reaching the lowest level since mid-2014 amid mounting evidence that the housing market is struggling. Economists consider pending-home sales a leading indicator because they track contract signings; purchases of existing homes are tabulated when a deal closes, typically a month or two later. [Extracted from the article]

Fed's preferred core price gauge rises 1.8% from year earlier Inflation is likely to rebound "because of the big impact from tariffs and wages going up", with price gains heating up at the start of 2019 and then cooling later in the year. [Extracted from the article]

Filings for U.S. unemployment benefits rose for a third week to the highest level since May, potentially reflecting volatility around two consecutive periods that included holidays. While applications for unemployment benefits are still hovering near historically low levels, further increases in weekly claims could signal a slowdown in the labor market. [Extracted from the article]

Trade war, fading boost from tax cuts haunt economic outlook Juiced by President Donald Trump's tax cuts, business investment helped deliver a robust U.S. economy in the first half of 2018, but signs have multiplied that the growth driver is faltering. While few expect capex to collapse, there's a growing debate over business investment, which encompasses spending on equipment, on structures such as factories and offices, and on intellectual property and software. [Extracted from the article]

Home-price gains in 20 U.S. cities grew in September at the slowest pace in almost two years, adding to signs that buyer interest is waning amid higher mortgage rates and elevated property values. The respite on price appreciation may be especially attractive for younger buyers or those purchasing a house for the first time; on the flip side, softer price gains also mean smaller advances in equity for owners. [Extracted from the article]

Consumer confidence declines, jobless claims increase "The economy is losing momentum", said Joshua Shapiro, chief U.S. economist at Maria Fiorini Ramirez Inc. in New York. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. consumer sentiment declined more than forecast in November as Americans' views about the economy deteriorated amid rising interest rates and slumping stocks. The survey's index of current personal finances held at 130, while a gauge of the outlook for personal finances slowed to 129, the weakest since June. The index measuring attitudes about the 12-month outlook for the economy fell to 117, the lowest level since July. [Extracted from the article]

Filings for U.S. unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level since late June, potentially reflecting holiday-related volatility in what otherwise has been a strong labor market. While the weekly claims data tend to be volatile, economists watch these figures for a timely read on the labor market's health. [Extracted from the article]

Orders placed with U.S. factories for business equipment were weak in October for a third straight month, another sign that momentum is cooling amid risks from the trade war with China. Non-military capital goods orders excluding aircraft -- a proxy for business investment -- were little changed after a 0.5 percent decline in September that was worse than previously reported, Commerce Department figures showed Wednesday. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. inflation showed little sign of breaking out in October despite strength in the economy and wages, likely keeping the Federal Reserve on its path of gradual interest-rate increases. While the Fed's preferred gauge of inflation is a separate measure related to consumption, those October figures will be released on Nov. 29, making the CPI a key report at this time. The Fed-preferred index and its core gauge both rose 2 percent in September from a year earlier; those measures tend to run slightly below the Labor Department's CPI. [Extracted from the article]

Consumer spending, which makes up the largest chunk of the U.S. economy, is still buoyed by a solid job market and a gradual pickup in wage gains. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect consumer spending to grow at a 2.8 percent annualized rate in the fourth quarter, following 4 percent in the previous three months. The data on consumption comes amid signs business investment also is softening. [Extracted from the article]

A debate is breaking out in the Treasury market before Wednesday's release of U.S. consumer-price data as tumbling crude oil leads investors to ratchet back inflation expectations. Traders will get a read on that when Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks on the economy Wednesday evening in Dallas, following the Labor Department inflation data due that morning. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. producer prices rose more than forecast in October for the biggest jump in six years on broad gains in costs for goods and services, a Labor Department report showed Friday. The main PPI results exceeded the median estimates in a Bloomberg survey of economists calling for a 2.5 percent annual increase and a 0.2 percent month-over-month rise. The PPI report also showed the cost of goods climbed 0.6 percent, the biggest gain since May. [Extracted from the article]

Americans' sentiment rose in the week leading up to the midterm congressional elections as gauges of views on the economy and household finances each jumped to 17-year highs, the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index showed Thursday. The political divide remained wide before the elections: Republicans' sentiment exceeded that of Democrats by 27.9 points. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. consumer debt posted the smallest increase in three months as credit-card loans fell, suggesting Americans had limited appetite to spend beyond their means, Federal Reserve figures showed Wednesday. The central bank's consumer credit report doesn't track debt secured by real estate, such as mortgages and home equity lines of credit. [Extracted from the article]

The U.S. trade deficit widened more than forecast in September to a seven-month high as imports expanded and the merchandise gap with China hit a record amid an escalating tariff war. September goods trade deficits with Mexico and Canada both narrowed on an unadjusted basis; the gap with Europe shrank to $10.6 billion from $15.7 billion. [Extracted from the article]

A gauge of U.S. manufacturing fell by more than forecast to a six-month low, as orders and hiring cooled amid escalating trade tensions with China, data from the Institute for Supply Management showed Thursday. "Import tariffs and counter-tariffs are the biggest inhibitor to the expansion in manufacturing" and trade strains are "restricting demand", Fiore said in an interview. [Extracted from the article]

Companies in October added the highest number of workers in eight months to U.S. payrolls, topping estimates and signaling the job market remains solid, according to data released Wednesday from the ADP Research Institute in Roseland, New Jersey. Companies employing 500 or more workers increased staffing by 102,000 jobs; payrolls rose by 96,000 at medium-sized businesses, or those with 50 to 499 employees; and small companies' payrolls climbed by 29,000. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. consumers are showing little sign so far that this month's stock-market plunge is denting their optimism or spending. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index rose in October to an 18-year high of 137.9, according to a report Tuesday. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. consumer confidence rose in October to an 18-year high amid optimism about jobs and the economy, according to figures Tuesday from the New York-based Conference Board. "Consumers' assessment of present-day conditions remains quite positive, primarily due to strong employment growth", Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at the Conference Board, said in a statement. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. purchases of new homes fell more than estimated in September to the weakest pace since December 2016, adding to signs that a lack of affordability is crimping demand, according to government data Wednesday. "By nearly all accounts, the slide in new home sales appears to be demand-driven and is not due to supply constraints", Mark Vitner, a senior economist at Wells Fargo & Co., wrote in a note. [Extracted from the article]

Economists project another gain in non-residential business investment, including equipment spending, due to the tax cuts and steady U.S. demand, as well as a persistent shortage of skilled labor. Analysts at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. estimate a 5 percent gain in federal spending, which accounts for about 40 percent of government outlays in GDP. [Extracted from the article]

President Donald Trump said he plans to pull out of a major arms control treaty with Russia, claiming the Kremlin breached the accord on intermediate-range nuclear weapons. The U.S. has been warning Russia it could resort to strong countermeasures unless Moscow complies with international commitments to arms reduction under the INF treaty, which is considered a landmark of Cold War detente. [Extracted from the article]

Fed's Bostic Sees "Positive" U.S. Growth With Gradual Rate Hikes "We've seen the economy continue to strengthen and continue to perform in a very positive way", Bostic, a voting member of the Fed's committee that sets interest rates, said during a community conversation at the Atlanta bank's headquarters Saturday. Even after recent increases, the Fed's key overnight lending rate is set at a range of 2 percent to 2.25 percent -- still below the 2.5 percent to 3 percent range that the Fed considers neutral because it neither stimulates nor restrains growth, Bostic said. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. filings for unemployment benefits fell last week and continuing claims dropped to the lowest level since 1973, indicating the job market remains solid, Labor Department figures showed Thursday. While claims may remain volatile in coming weeks, the impact of Florence -- which struck North Carolina and South Carolina in mid-September -- is fading. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. factory production expanded in September for a fourth consecutive month on broad-based demand as the sector accelerated in the third quarter, Federal Reserve data showed Tuesday. Overall output growth in September was held down slightly by Hurricane Florence, with an estimated impact of less than 0.1 percentage point, the Fed said. [Extracted from the article]

So-called retail control-group sales -- which are used to calculate gross domestic product and exclude food services, auto dealers, building-materials stores and gasoline stations -- climbed 0.5 percent, slightly more than estimated. Sales at automobile and parts dealers rose 0.8 percent after decreasing 0.5 percent in the previous month, the Commerce Department data showed. [Extracted from the article]

U.S. consumer sentiment unexpectedly dipped in October to a still-elevated level amid slightly dimmer views of personal finances and the long-term economic outlook, a University of Michigan report showed Friday. "Consumer sentiment slipped in early October, although it remained at quite favorable levels", Richard Curtin, director of the University of Michigan consumer survey, said in a statement. [Extracted from the article]