Even though traditional government data has current inflation at 1.2%, consumers have a different perspective with higher inflation expectations. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York tracks and maintains consumer inflation expectations every month, separate from traditional inflation data tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median one-year inflation expectation by consumers is 2.96% as of November 2020, nearly …

The Coronavirus Relief Bill extends and modifies several provisions first enacted by the CAREs Act in March 2020. The package extends relief through mid-March of 2021, providing support to individuals and small businesses in order to get through the remaining months of the pandemic. Following are highlights from the relief bill: Stimulus Payment; A one time direct payment in the …

Confidence among workers to freely leave and quit their current job has historically been an indicator of the current condition of the labor market. As COVID-19 took its toll on the economy with layoffs rapidly increasing, remaining workers became less confident in leaving their current jobs in fear that they might not be able to find another position. The Department …

As stay at home mandates came into effect throughout the country, companies scrambled to migrate their management teams and essential employees to home offices. Data tracked by the Labor Department revealed that higher income positions, which include management and technology jobs, were most likely shifted to home offices. Unfortunately, data also revealed that lower paid employees were the ones that …

As restrictions surrounding restaurants and dining out set in due to the pandemic, consumers instead headed to grocery stores. Sales at grocery stores surpassed levels never reached over the past ten years. Stores witnessed an immediate surge in customers as news about restaurant closures and dwindling inventories of toilet paper and tissue became major headlines on social media and television. …

Equity markets rebounded in a historical fashion from the lows in March 2020 to the end of the year, driven by vaccine optimism, low rates, and continued stimulus funding. Margin loan balances increased during the pandemic, eclipsing $722 billion through November and surpassing the previous high of $668 billion in May 2018, as reported by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. …

Rates remained near historic lows throughout 2020 as ambitious efforts by the Federal Reserve and the Treasury ensured critical liquidity in the fixed income markets. Key rates fell across the board in 2020, as injected liquidity and active monetary and fiscal policy initiatives contributed to a low rate environment. Mortgage rates fell to new lows in 2020 a dozen times …

Spending at stores essentially stalled in late March and April, as restrictions imposed to confront the spread of COVID-19 took it’s toll on the retail sector. The inability of consumers to spend freely also took a toll on the U.S. economy, since consumer expenditures make up over 70% of GDP. So when consumers were halted from spending, GDP fell an …

Work habits and patterns have not only changed in the United States but have also been altered in Europe, where work at home has become vastly commonplace. For many, the home office has created a need for products and services not required prior to the pandemic, when company office environments provided all amenities and necessary tools to operate. Of the …

COVID-19 reshaped markets, trade, retail, and consumer behavior globally in 2020 with lingering effects heading into 2021. Markets shrugged off pandemic concerns throughout the year, with all major equity indices reaching new highs in December. The anticipation of vaccinations along with the hope of a resurgence in consumer demand may eventually elevate economic activity to where it was before the …