Behind the Numbers Archive

  • Behind the Numbers - Jul 19, 2024

    Consumers Still Consuming - Consumers defied expectations in June and came back to the checkout counter, or rather clicked the checkout box. While retail sales were flat in June, this was better than the...
  • Behind the Numbers - Jul 12, 2024

    One Step Closer - The June CPI report was a headline maker: inflation fell 0.1%. After years of rising inflation, the news can’t get any better than that. All sub-indexes of the consumer price index came...
  • Behind the Numbers - Jul 5, 2024

    Are Those Cracks We See? - June was another strong month for the labor market, but some cracks are beginning to appear. The U.S. added 206,000 jobs in June, more than estimated, but the second...
  • Behind the Numbers - Jun 28, 2024

    Three's a Charm - The third inflation report of the month, and quite possibly the most important, confirmed inflation is making progress and moving lower. Or at least it is not moving higher. The...
  • Behind the Numbers - Jun 21, 2024

    D for Disappointment - If there was a grade for spending, consumers would have earned a solid D in May. Retail sales were a big disappointment for a second month in a row. Sales rose 0.1% versus...