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1 month ago | 
forbes.com | Jason Schenker
Material handling and manufacturing industry data expanded but decelerated in February. Tariff policies have added significant downside risks to the growth outlook.
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1 month ago | 
mhisolutionsmag.com | Jason Schenker |Robin Lamerson
BY , PRESIDENT OF PRESTIGE ECONOMICS®, CHAIRMAN OF THE FUTURIST INSTITUTE®Some of the biggest risks to the 2025 economic and material handling outlooks evaporated in late 2024 with a swift and decisive outcome of the U.S. presidential election that removed the most significant risks to uncertainty and potential economic and societal disruption.
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1 month ago | 
mhisolutionsmag.com | Jason Schenker |Robin Lamerson
BY , PRESIDENT OF PRESTIGE ECONOMICS,® CHAIRMAN OF THE FUTURIST INSTITUTE®The transition to a new presidential administration has brought with it a recalibration of federal priorities, including sustainability policies.
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2 months ago | 
forbes.com | Jason Schenker
Material handling and manufacturing industry data strengthened in January. The ISM manufacturing index was the strongest since September 2022, while the MHI BAI improved.
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Jan 16, 2025 | 
forbes.com | Jason Schenker
December 2024 retail sales were positive but slightly below expectations, with an increase in month-on-month sales by 0.4%. This was the fourth consecutive monthly expansion in retail sales and December 2024 retail sales were up 3.9% year on year. While the pace of retail sales in December was only modestly positive, the health of recent retail sales data bodes well for the growth rate in Q4 2024 GDP.
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Jan 15, 2025 | 
forbes.com | Jason Schenker
The December Consumer Price Index report showed an acceleration in year-on-year total CPI inflation to 2.9%, the highest rate since July 2024. Meanwhile, core CPI remained sticky and elevated but decelerated slightly from 3.3% to 3.2%. Due to elevated year-on-year consumer inflation rates and strong recent jobs data, financial markets reflect expectations that the Fed will not change interest rates on January 29. A change in Fed policy in March also seems unlikely.
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Jan 12, 2025 | 
forbes.com | Jason Schenker
Equity markets and bond prices fell hard after the release of the December jobs report, as the dollar and bond yields surged. However, market moves on January 10 were about more than the jobs report. Anticipation of this week’s forthcoming Consumer Price Index inflation report may also have been a key factor that moved markets. Base effects threaten to make year-on-year total and core consumer inflation rates accelerate in the December CPI report that will be released on January 15.
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Jan 10, 2025 | 
forbes.com | Jason Schenker
The December jobs report revealed a drop in the unemployment rate to 4.1%, accompanied by a rise and acceleration in monthly net non-farm payroll gains of 256,000. Before the jobs report was released, the odds were already low for an interest rate cut in the next Federal Reserve decision on January 29. However, the strong December jobs report is the nail in the coffin for January rate cut expectations.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
forbes.com | Jason Schenker
Material handling data from the industry group MHI weakened in December compared to November. The December MHI Business Activity Index reflected contractions across most categories, including capacity utilization, shipments, unfilled orders, inventories, and exports. On the upside, there were still expansions in December business activity, new orders, and future new orders.
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Dec 23, 2024 | 
forbes.com | Jason Schenker
Five trends will impact the U.S. economy and financial markets in 2025, including jobs, consumption, growth, inflation, and interest rates. While 2024 was a solid year, there are reasons to be optimistic about the 2025 outlook. Labor Market Trends And The Outlook For Jobs In 2025There were mixed dynamics for the U.S. labor market in 2024. Nonfarm payroll gains slowed in 2024 while the unemployment rate increased compared to 2023.
