By the numbers: The economy this week

Update for December 16, 2019   |   Download PDF

Highlights of key economic statistics from last week compiled by Putnam Investments.

economy

  • The CPI rose 0.3% and core CPI increased 0.2% in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • The Producer Price Index for final demand was unchanged in November, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found.

employment

  • Initial jobless claims rose 49,000 to 252,000 in the week ended December 7, 2019, according to the Labor Department.

profits

  • As of December 5, 2019, of the 500 S&P 500 Index companies reporting third-quarter earnings, 374 — or 74.8% — beat analysts’ estimates, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.

emotion

  • The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased in November.

europe

  • Eurostat reported that industrial production fell 0.5% in October.
  • The Office for National Statistics reported that GDP remained flat in the United Kingdom in the three months to October.
  • The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment advanced in December.

rates

  • The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note traded in a narrow range.
  • The Federal Reserve held rates steady.

risks

  • The cumulative effect of tariffs and low corporate confidence will increase pressure on global manufacturing.
  • Brexit, Italian debt dynamics, and a fragile European banking system risk tipping Europe back into recession.
  • Weak stimulus in China thus far is showing little sign of slowing the pace of deceleration.

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All economic and performance information is historical and does not guarantee future results. The views and opinions expressed are those of Putnam Investments, are subject to change with market conditions, and are not meant as investment advice.