Amid a bounce back in manufacturing activity, surging commodity prices are leading to fears of inflationary forces. Those forces are real, but corporate profits — and therefore, stock prices — won’t suffer too quickly. The pa…
These days it feels as if every piece of economic news comes with a qualifier. However, one statistic has had an unqualified, enduring positive run: the rise in worker productivity, which bodes well for investors, employees and…
Friday’s action notwithstanding, in which gold prices rose as the stock market sold off, safe-haven assets are suffering at the expensive of equities and other riskier assets. That’s what happens when the global economy appears…
The latest consumer sentiment index reading continues to show an American public that expects better days ahead, and fourth quarter GDP growth indicates a strengthening economy. But countervailing pressures remain: Initial jobl…
While most analysts don’t expect a major departure from the December Fed meeting, the voting lineup has changed substantially. Now, Chairman Bernanke has to deal with three new members of the rate-setting committee who have exp…