As the new cold war dawns, China’s international influence is on the rise, driven by its economy and it growing control over critical minerals that play a pivotal role in various products, which hold the key to shaping the future. Companies involved at every stage of the supply chain, spanning from mining to the production…
Rising interest rates have once again inflicted a decrement on the valuation of bank bond portfolios, coinciding with a period when major banks confront alterations in regulations compelling them to acknowledge notional losses in the computation of their regulatory capital.
The US Treasury market hit a record high in July, surpassing $25 trillion for the first time in its history. This has been reached as the US government continues to borrow to fund its operations and fiscal stimulus. Treasury bills, short-term bills, and bonds outstanding rose about 1% in July to a record $25.137 trillion,…
The decision to downgrade US credit rating from AAA to AA+ reflects how increasing political polarization and recurrent standoffs in Washington over spending and taxes may eventually burden US taxpayers. Over time, a lower credit rating could lead to higher borrowing costs for the US government.
The results of the June 2023 survey conducted by the RV Industry Association reveal a significant decline in total RV shipments. The month ended with 24,095 units shipped, showing a considerable decrease of 46.4% compared to June 2022 when 44,942 units were shipped. The overall trend for RV shipments this year has been on a…
In May 2023, transborder freight between the United States and its North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico, experienced a notable dip across various transportation modes. A comprehensive report released by the Department of Transportation highlights key insights, revealing how total transborder freight valued at $136.2 billion moved across borders through different transportation channels. The movement…
The recent experience of the Federal Reserve dealing with high inflation should serve as a cautionary tale for the Bank of Japan, urging them to be careful in their desire for higher inflation. The Bank of Japan faces a crucial moment in its monetary policy as it tries to avoid falling below its 2% inflation…
The amount of distress in the U.S. Commercial Real Estate increased to USD 71.8 billion during the middle of the year, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of growth. Distress refers to financially troubled assets and properties taken back by lenders. In the last quarter, distress exceeded property owner and lender workouts by approximately USD 8…
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) data is indicating massive layoffs The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act of 1988 requires most companies with 100 or more employees to provide a 60-day advance notification of mass layoffs to employees. Data is collected from 23 states and aggregated into a national time series. This provides…
US Propane Exports Hit Record High, Fueled by Growing Asian Demand and Competitive Prices In March 2023, the United States achieved a new milestone in the energy sector as propane exports hit an all-time high of 1.7 million barrels per day (b/d), marking the highest level since data collection began in 1973. Propane serves as…