RQA Economic Insights: April 2024

RQA Economic Insights: April 2024

This month's analysis focuses on the recent trends in corporate bond spreads. We explore the implications of the narrowing spreads and what this means for the premium that investors might receive when taking on additional credit risk. Additionally, we provide an update on the current state of the U.S. economy from a growth perspective, drawing insights from the RQA economic model. Lastly, we conclude with an update on our growth and inflation quadrant analysis.

RQA Economic Insights: March 2024

RQA Economic Insights: March 2024

In this month's economic update, we revisit U.S. interest rate data, placing particular emphasis on the ongoing yield curve inversion. We delve into the historical occurrences of inversions and analyze the average duration of such events. Furthermore, we update our examination of leading economic indicators and the RQA economic model to gain insights into our current position in terms of near-term growth prospects.

RQA Economic Insights: February 2024

RQA Economic Insights: February 2024

Our latest review provides a fresh take on the current trajectory of residential real estate permits. We probe into the latest data, take a look at long term trends and how they overlap with general economic growth conditions. Moreover, we assess the leading economic indicators that are driving an upward trend in the RQA Forecast Model. Wrapping up our analysis, we contemplate the economy's current state from the perspective of growth and inflation, offering insights into the overarching economic conditions.

RQA Economic Insights: January 2024

RQA Economic Insights: January 2024

Our most recent analysis offers an updated perspective on the current trends in consumer sentiment. We delve into the latest data, update our forward-looking analysis, and evaluate recent consumer sentiment trends. Additionally, we examine the leading economic indicators that are influencing a positive shift in the RQA Forecast Model. Concluding our analysis, we discuss the current positioning of the economy within the growth-inflation quadrant, providing an overview of the economic landscape.

RQA Economic Insights: December 2023

RQA Economic Insights: December 2023

Our latest analysis focuses on interest rate expectations and the Federal Reserve's influence on short-term rates through the Federal Funds Rate, which dictates the overnight lending rate between banks. We examine recent shifts in these expectations and analyze the market's subsequent reactions. Furthermore, our analysis provides a current assessment of vital economic indicators and model outputs, shedding light on the prevailing strengths and vulnerabilities in the current economic scenario.

RQA Economic Insights: November 2023

RQA Economic Insights: November 2023

This month's economic analysis focuses on corporate bond spreads, their measurement, and the implications they carry for forecasting economic growth and volatility in U.S. equity markets. We delve into the dynamics of these spreads, drawing parallels to historical patterns and assessing their potential impact on predictions for economic performance. Additionally, our analysis offers an up-to-date evaluation of key economic indicators and economic model output, providing insights into the existing strengths and weaknesses within the current economic landscape.

RQA Economic Insights: October 2023

RQA Economic Insights: October 2023

In our latest economic analysis for this month, we explore the recent movements in interest rates across different maturity periods. We investigate this shift in light of prior occurrences of yield curve inversions and examine its potential impact on our forecast for economic performance. Furthermore, we delve into how these rate adjustments might be influencing the perspectives of Federal Reserve officials concerning the potential for future interest rate hikes. Additionally, we provide an up-to-date assessment of leading economic indicators, offering insights into areas of both strength and weakness within the current economic landscape.

RQA Economic Insights: September 2023

RQA Economic Insights: September 2023

In this month's economic analysis, we shift our attention to the patterns observed in a selection of commodity prices and explore their impact on both economic expansion and inflationary forces. We delve into the insights provided by the RQA Economic Model and the implications of leading indicators for short-term economic growth. Additionally, we provide an update on the recent actions and statements of the Federal Reserve and their potential implications for the direction of interest rates.

RQA Economic Insights: August 2023

RQA Economic Insights: August 2023

This month's economic data spotlight focuses on examining the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) data, also known as PMI (Purchasing Managers' Index) data, for both the manufacturing and services sectors. It specifically explores recent shifts in trends and the significance of variations within this data in offering valuable insights into the broader economic landscape.  We provide an update to the near-term economic forecast and touch on where we may be heading from an economic quadrant perspective.

RQA Economic Insights: July 2023

RQA Economic Insights: July 2023

In this July's economic data spotlight, we take a look at the Federal Funds Rate (“Fed Funds Rate”), recent changes in this key interest rate and how the market is forecasting rates going forward.  We update the economic growth model and leading economic indicator set to see where positive economic shifts are occurring.  Lastly, we explore where the economy sits  today and where we may be migrating to from a growth / inflation quadrant perspective.