An uptick in consumer spending helped the U.S. economy expand at a surprising 3.8% from April through June, the government reported in a dramatic upgrade of its previous estimate of second-quarter growth. U.S. gross domestic product—the nation's output of goods and services—rebounded in the spring from a 0.6% first-quarter drop caused by fallout from President Donald Trump's trade wars, the Commerce Department said Thursday. The department had previously estimated second-quarter growth at 3.3%, and forec ...

Chinese shoppers are splurging on leisure, not designer brands https://t.co/JIDlGF3c7x ...

Gross domestic product grew at a 3.8% annual rate in April through June, up from a previous estimate of 3.3%, as consumer spending was revised higher. ...

The assumption was that consumer spending had softened considerably due to angst and uncertainty stemming from the trade wars. Now it appears that Americans mostly went about their business as usual. ...

All of those things would seem to suggest that this is an economy in trouble. Not so according to the economic data released in the last hour. It showed the US economy growing at the fastest pace in nearly two years, thanks to consumer spending, though apparently not on used cars.Fed Governor Stephen Myron spoke to Bloomberg ahead of that data on the next steps for the Fed. My view is not one of enormous economic pessimism. You know, I don't think the economy is about to crater. I don't think the labor mark ...

Costco Wholesale Corporation COST could offer insight at the health of consumer spending when the retailer reports fourth-quarter financial results Thursday after market close.Here are the earnings estimates, what analysts are saying ahead of the report, and key items to watch.Earnings Estimates: Analysts expect Costco to report fourth-quarter revenue of $86.11 billion. That’s up from $79.7 billion in last year's fourth quarter, according to data from Benzinga Pro.Costco has beaten analyst estimates for rev ...

Group 1: Federal Reserve Insights - Fed Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech is crucial for understanding the central bank's policy direction following recent rate decisions and market reactions [1][2] - Powell's comments will be analyzed for insights on economic conditions, inflation progress, and potential future rate adjustments [1][2] - The speech may address market dislocations or unintended consequences from recent policy decisions, impacting bond yields, the dollar, and equity sector rotation [1] Group 2: Market Recalibration and Valuations - Investors are recalibrating after the Fed's rate cut decision, focusing on the sustainability of recent market leadership amid concerning technical signals [2][3] - High-flying stocks like IonQ, Oklo, Baidu, and Alibaba have reached extreme valuations, raising concerns about potential corrections [3] - The shift from momentum to fundamentals could create downside pressure for these stocks, leading to broader market rotation into defensive sectors [3] Group 3: Semiconductor Sector Analysis - Micron's earnings report is anticipated to provide insights into memory chip demand across various applications, serving as a bellwether for the semiconductor cycle [4] - Key areas of focus include high-bandwidth memory demand from AI chip manufacturers, DRAM pricing trends, and inventory levels [4] - Micron's guidance on future demand and competition dynamics will be critical for assessing the sustainability of semiconductor investments [4] Group 4: Consumer Spending and Housing Market - Earnings from Costco and housing market data will shed light on consumer spending patterns and residential real estate trends post-Fed rate decision [5][6] - Costco's results will provide insights into membership trends and same-store sales growth, particularly during economic uncertainty [5] - New and existing home sales data will help evaluate the impact of recent rate cuts on housing activity and affordability challenges [5][6] Group 5: Economic Growth and Inflation Data - The Q2 GDP revision and Core PCE Price Index will influence Fed policy expectations and market sector rotation decisions [7] - The GDP revision will offer insights into economic momentum and consumer spending patterns that informed the Fed's recent policy [7] - The Core PCE reading will be scrutinized for evidence of disinflation progress or concerns about price stability, impacting bond yields and sector rotation [7]

Cardboard-box demand is slumping, flashing a potential warning about the health of the American consumer https://t.co/uJckCuRNIz ...

Economic Overview - Canadian GDP data for July and flash estimates for August will provide insights into the economic recovery after a 1.6% contraction from April to June due to the US tariff war [1] - The US economy shows early signs of recovery, with August spending data expected to indicate brisk consumer spending despite tepid income growth [2] Federal Reserve Insights - Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated a cooling labor market as a reason for the first interest rate cut of the year, while remaining vigilant on inflation amid ongoing tariff impacts [4] - A report is anticipated to show a slower growth rate in the personal consumption expenditures price index, providing the Fed some leeway to address labor market weaknesses [5] Central Bank Activities - Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem will discuss trade upheaval's effects on inflation and rates, while Statistics Canada will release population estimates amid post-pandemic immigration challenges [6] - Several central banks, including those in Sweden, Switzerland, and Hungary, are expected to maintain current rates, while Mexico and Nigeria are likely to implement cuts [7] Global Economic Indicators - Flash purchasing manager indexes (PMIs) in Asia and Europe will be closely monitored, with key readings from Australia and India expected to show service sector momentum [9] - Japan's midweek PMIs and retail sales data will provide insights into household spending, critical for the Bank of Japan's policy discussions [10] China Economic Data - China's August industrial profits will be reported, assessing corporate earnings stability after months of deflationary pressure, with government spending growth slowing [11] Latin America Economic Developments - Brazil's central bank will release minutes from its recent rate-setting meeting, maintaining a key rate of 15% amid high inflation [19] - Mexico is expected to continue its streak of rate cuts, with analysts anticipating a reduction to 7.5% as inflation remains within the central bank's tolerance range [22][23]

Halloween spending in the US is expected to climb to a record $13.1 billion this year despite consumer wariness about tariffs and higher costs of living, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation https://t.co/qiLkUXLZuC ...