Strata-gee.com

Strategy in TECH...

AudioControl Single Zone Amps
You are here: Home / Archives for Economic Trends

Economic Trends

Another Sign of Rising Consumer Pessimism – the U of M Index of Consumer Sentiment

by Leave a Comment

Another sign of a deteriorating consumer outlook arrived last Friday in the form of the Index of Consumer Sentiment (ICS), another highly respected data resource from the University of Michigan that is widely followed by economists, financial analysts, Wall Street, the Federal Reserve Board, government officials, the media, and more. Widely viewed as a reliable indicator of how consumers are feeling about their current circumstances, as well as their outlook for the future, and their expectations for inflation – it is a leading indicator of future economic direction.

The preliminary result of the ICS for February registered a significant drop in consumer sentiment. What is spooking consumers?

See more on the February Index of Consumer Sentiment decline…

[Read more…] about Another Sign of Rising Consumer Pessimism – the U of M Index of Consumer Sentiment

Consumer Confidence Drops in January as Consumers Turn Pessimistic

by 1 Comment

The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI), one of two major indexes tracking consumer sentiment on the U.S. economy, dropped in January, following what appeared to be a turning point to the negative side in late December. The CCI, a monthly survey of consumers conducted by The Conference Board and widely followed by economists as a reliable gauge that probes consumers’ thoughts on the economy – both in a rating of their present conditions…and in their rating of the near-term future prospects.

What does this unexpected decline mean for the economy?

See more on this drop in the Consumer Confidence Index

[Read more…] about Consumer Confidence Drops in January as Consumers Turn Pessimistic

On Eve of CES 2025, CTA Projects Tech Industry Sales of $537 Billion

by 2 Comments

CES slide showing its powered by the CTA

Warns of the Negative Impact of Trump Tariffs

This past Sunday, on the eve of this week’s launch of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) released updated projections for total Tech industry sales in the year, as is its custom. According to the trade association, total Tech industry sales are expected to reach $537 billion – the highest level in history.

Read more on CTA projections for total Tech sales in 2025

[Read more…] about On Eve of CES 2025, CTA Projects Tech Industry Sales of $537 Billion

New Single-Family Home Sales Collapse in October to Two-Year Low

by Leave a Comment

Photo of home by Shenandoah Homes

Sales of newly constructed single-family homes dropped to a two-year low in October as rising mortgage rates and persistent high prices impacted the affordability of available homes and served to keep buyers on the sidelines. Some experts also noted that elevated hurricane activity also kept buyers away, especially in the South region.

Get all the details on new home sales in October

[Read more…] about New Single-Family Home Sales Collapse in October to Two-Year Low

Supply Chain Nightmares Return; Union Strikes at 36 Eastern & Gulf Ports

by 2 Comments

The supply chain stressed by port strikes
Cargo ship loaded in New York container terminal at night viewed from Elizabeth NJ

On Tuesday this week, at precisely 12:01 a.m., 45,000 dockworkers in 36 ports up and down the East Coast and throughout the Gulf of Mexico went on strike. That sentence should send a shiver down your spine because, yes folks, a new supply chain nightmare has begun. This possibility has been on my radar screen for a couple of weeks, but I hesitated to write about it because I was hopeful that negotiations would yield a resolution that would prevent this nightmare from happening…and then I would have been accused of fear mongering.

But negotiations did not yield a solution…so here we are!

See more on a new supply chain nightmare

[Read more…] about Supply Chain Nightmares Return; Union Strikes at 36 Eastern & Gulf Ports

Residential Construction Jumps in August as Mortgage Rate Drops Promise a Lift in Sales

by Leave a Comment

A prime example of residential construction - a home being built

The latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development showed that residential construction (housing starts) took off in August with high single-digit overall and even double-digit upside gains in the single-family construction segment. Many industry observers attributed the upturn to now more optimistic builders looking to take advantage of improving housing affordability with mortgage rates declining. Many builders believe this will stimulate a big upturn in sales.

See all the latest residential construction data

[Read more…] about Residential Construction Jumps in August as Mortgage Rate Drops Promise a Lift in Sales

Scan Your Radar Closely: Consumer Finances are Getting Stressed

by Leave a Comment

Photo of a consumer shopping center

When most of us think about the Fed (the Federal Reserve Board), we think about Chairman Jerome Powell setting bank rates that can have a major impact on the U.S. economy. But what you may not know is that the Fed is a prodigious monitor and relayer of economic data. New data points have come to my attention that show increasing pressure as consumer debt levels and delinquency rates continue to rise – a condition impacting the everyday average American consumer. I felt compelled to share this data with you so you can begin tracking it on your radar screens as well.

See the new data on the consumer market I find troubling

[Read more…] about Scan Your Radar Closely: Consumer Finances are Getting Stressed

After a Hopeful February, March Housing Starts Drop Double-Digit Percentage

by Leave a Comment

This is a new home; housing starts declined in March

Residential construction, known as housing starts, dropped in March by a surprising double-digit percentage. Most industry analysts believe that the slowdown is due to stubborn inflation readings motivating the Fed to keep interest rates high which is affecting mortgage rates and home affordability.

After solid gains in February raised hopes in the segment, the March numbers were a chilling splash of reality as home inventory is low and mortgage rates are high.

See more on housing starts in March

[Read more…] about After a Hopeful February, March Housing Starts Drop Double-Digit Percentage

Home Construction Looks to Rebound in 2024; Housing Starts & Builder Sentiment Up

by 1 Comment

home construction looks to be picking up steam in 2024

The overall housing market has been an economic laggard as the country has seen its economy rebound in the post-pandemic era. The reason for this is primarily due to an unusual combination of high interest rates AND high home prices AND limited available inventory of homes for sale. It is a triple witching that has bedeviled the housing industry in the post-pandemic era.

But is housing about to turn up?

See how the latest housing starts data is a positive sign for home construction

[Read more…] about Home Construction Looks to Rebound in 2024; Housing Starts & Builder Sentiment Up

U.K. Gov’t Will Use Vinyl Records as Part of Its Official Tracking of Inflation

by Leave a Comment

Onkyo turntable with vinyl record

I continue to be intrigued by the growing influence of vinyl records, a once dominant media that by the early 2000s was thought to be dead. Now, however, after 17 back-to-back years of ever-increasing sales growth (according to RIAA data), it is back. A global phenomenon, this week the U.K. government announced it would now include vinyl records in its official basket of goods used to track inflation.

See more on the growing influence of vinyl albums

[Read more…] about U.K. Gov’t Will Use Vinyl Records as Part of Its Official Tracking of Inflation