- Initial claims slightly higher than expected.
- Continuing claims increase moderately.
- Insured unemployment rate still 1.2%, same since March 2023.
Introducing
Kathleen Stephansen, CBE
in:Our Authors
Kathleen Stephansen is a Senior Economist for Haver Analytics and an Independent Trustee for the EQAT/VIP/1290 Trust Funds, encompassing the US mutual funds sponsored by the Equitable Life Insurance Company. She is a former Chief Economist of Huawei Technologies USA, Senior Economic Advisor to the Boston Consulting Group, Chief Economist of the American International Group (AIG) and AIG Asset Management’s Senior Strategist and Global Head of Sovereign Research. Prior to joining AIG in 2010, Kathleen held various positions as Chief Economist or Head of Global Research at Aladdin Capital Holdings, Credit Suisse and Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette Securities Corporation.
Kathleen serves on the boards of the Global Interdependence Center (GIC), as Vice-Chair of the GIC College of Central Bankers, is the Treasurer for Economists for Peace and Security (EPS) and is a former board member of the National Association of Business Economics (NABE). She is a member of Chatham House and the Economic Club of New York. She holds an undergraduate degree in economics from the Universite Catholique de Louvain and graduate degrees in economics from the University of New Hampshire (MA) and the London School of Economics (PhD abd).
Publications by Kathleen Stephansen, CBE
USA| Jun 20 2024U.S. Unemployment Insurance Claims Down 5,000 in June 15 Week
USA| Jun 18 2024U.S. Industrial Production Rebounded in May
- IP growth rebounded 0.9% m/m in May as did manufacturing output.
- Within manufacturing, both durable and nondurable goods production rose last month.
- Mining activity rose.
- Capacity utilization rose to 78.7%.
USA| Jun 06 2024U.S. Unemployment Insurance Claims Rose Modestly in June 1 Week
- Initial jobless claims inched up 8,000 in the June 1 week.
- Continued weeks claims were very steady, with flat trend.
- The insured unemployment rate is unchanged since March 2023.
USA| Jun 05 2024U.S. Mortgage Applications Declined for a Second Week
- Drop in mortgage applications for the second week after three weekly increases.
- Purchase & refinancing applications both declined.
- Effective 30-year and 15-year fixed interest rates move higher.
- Mortgage applications edged up in the latest week.
- Purchase applications fell while refinancing applications rose.
- The effective interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans eased.
- Productivity slows in Q1.
- Unit labor costs rise sharply.
- Slowdown in factory productivity and unit labor cost growth.
USA| May 01 2024U.S. Mortgage Applications Decreased for a Second Week
- Mortgage applications fell for the second consecutive week.
- Purchase applications & refinancing applications both fell.
- The effective interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate loan rose, while other rates edged down.
USA| Apr 10 2024U.S. Mortgage Applications Inched Up in the Latest Week
- Mortgage applications rose slightly in the first week of April.
- Applications to purchase a loan fell but applications to refinance jumped.
- All rates on mortgage loans rose in the latest week.
USA| Apr 03 2024U.S. Mortgage Applications Fell in the Latest Week
- Mortgage applications fell for the third consecutive week.
- Purchase & loan refinancing applications refinancing slip.
- Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loans decline slightly.
USA| Mar 28 2024U.S. Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Stay Low
- Initial claims are range bound.
- Continuing claims rise to a narrow range eight-week high.
- Insured unemployment rate remains steady.
USA| Mar 06 2024U.S. Mortgage Applications Rose in the March 1st Week
- Mortgage loan applications jumped in the latest week.
- Purchase loan applications rose after five consecutive weekly declines.
- 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was little changed in the last week.
USA| Feb 29 2024Chicago Business Barometer Falls Again in February
- The headline index fell to 44.0, pointing to on-going decline in activity.
- The employment and production subindexes declined 6.0 points.
- Input prices continued to rise at a slow pace.
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