Category Archives: Economy & Markets

Unemployment Report Better Than Expected, Or Was It?

Today’s unemployment report came in better than expected, at least in the eyes of the media. But there was something you probably didn’t hear about from today’s report. I’ll get to that after the headline numbers. In January, the unemployment rate fell to 8.3%, the fifth consecutive monthly drop. The number of new jobs grew…

4Q GDP Short of Expectations

This morning’s advance estimate of 4Q GDP was a disappointment relative to the pre-report consensus. The Commerce Department reported that 4Q GDP rose only 2.8% (annual rate) following 1.8% in the 3Q. The pre-report consensus was 3.2%. The Bureau of Economic Analysis noted that the improvement in the 4Q reflected increases in private investment in…