Dees Stribling
Economy Watch: Fed Holds Off on Rate Hike
The Federal Open Market Committee did not increase the cost of borrowing at its latest meeting, citing positive expectations about the labor market, including solid job growth and a declining unemployment rate.
Economy Watch: Bay Area a Top Market for Tech Talent
While tech workers account for just 3.5 percent of total workers in the U.S., the small labor force has an outsized impact on the real estate market and national economy, and it’s growing, according to a recent CBRE report.
Economy Watch: State Unemployment Rates Mostly Flat in June
Thirty-eight states and D.C. had stable unemployment rates for the month, while 10 states saw decreases and two states saw increases, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report.
Economy Watch: Architecture Billings Start Summer Off Strong
June marks the fifth consecutive month of design revenue growth for architecture firms, according to the American Institute of Architects’ latest Architecture Billings index.
Economy Watch: Consumers More Jittery About the Future
Confidence in future U.S. economic prospects continued to decline in July, according to the University of Michigan’s latest consumer confidence survey.
Economy Watch: CPI Stable in June
The cost of energy declined again in June, falling 1.6 percent, which offset an increase for all items besides food and energy, according to a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report.
Economy Watch: Retail Sales Edge Down in June
Most retail categories lost a bit in sales for the month, with a few dropping more than a little, according to the Census Bureau. Department stores, sporting goods, and grocery stores were among the retail sectors with declining sales.
Economy Watch: US Office Sector Enjoys Strong Second Quarter
The property type’s performance rebounded in the second quarter, according to a recent Cushman & Wakefield report, with office space absorption hitting its highest level since the third quarter of 2016.
Economy Watch: Economy Creates 220K Jobs in June
Job growth in June exceeded the average of 194,000 jobs created over the past three months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics latest jobs report. The April and May job numbers were also revised up.
Economy Watch: Construction Spending Flat in May
Residential construction was up 0.5 percent and non-residential construction was down 0.3 percent, leading total construction to remain flat for the month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Compared to May 2016, however, all major nonresidential construction categories enjoyed increased spending.