The Eyepopping Factory Construction Boom in the US

by Wolf Richter • Dec 2, 2023 • 84 Comments

The supply-chain catastrophe in 2020-2021, the edgy US-China relationship, and the scary dependence on China triggered a big corporate rethink.

Oh Deary, No, Our Drunken Sailors Did Not Suddenly Sober Up, on the Contrary

by Wolf Richter • Dec 1, 2023 • 138 Comments

They Out-Spent and Out-Earned inflation without breaking a sweat, and saved some too.

Beneath the Skin of the PCE Price Index: Inflation in Services

by Wolf Richter • Nov 30, 2023 • 142 Comments

Gasoline plunged, durable goods fell. Inflation still hot in housing, insurance, healthcare, transportation (incl. auto services). Food inflation simmers.

“Unrealized Losses” on Securities Held by Banks Jump by 22% to $684 Billion in Q3, Oh Lordy

by Wolf Richter • Nov 30, 2023 • 103 Comments

They don’t matter until they suddenly do.

Interest Payments on the Ballooning Federal Debt vs. Tax Receipts & GDP: Not as Bad as in 1982-1997, but Getting There

by Wolf Richter • Nov 29, 2023 • 75 Comments

Our drunken sailors in Congress better head to the detox.

Most Splendid Housing Bubbles in America, Nov. Update: From 2022 Highs, San Francisco -11%, Seattle -10%, Las Vegas -6%, Phoenix -6%, Portland -5%, Denver -5%, Dallas -5%, San Diego…

by Wolf Richter • Nov 28, 2023 • 220 Comments

20-City index below 2022 high, 9 metros below 2022 highs, 10 metros set new highs. The unsavory “National” index cocktail in the headlines gets shredded.

Prices of New Houses Drop Further, -18% Year-over-Year, Sales Drop, High Inventories Rise Further, Supply Jumps

by Wolf Richter • Nov 27, 2023 • 222 Comments

Mortgage-rate buydowns, “smaller product footprints,” and “de-amenitizing” to bring down payments: D.R. Horton.

Money Market Funds, Large CDs, Small CDs All Surged: Americans Figured it Out

by Wolf Richter • Nov 24, 2023 • 144 Comments

Banks, forced by competition from money market funds, got the memo.

Lithium “Shortage” Bubble Implodes (Again), Price Collapsed 77% in a Year, as Demand and Production Both Surged

by Wolf Richter • Nov 23, 2023 • 75 Comments

Investors smell the money, billions are flowing, even in the US, which could become major lithium producer.

Even Higher for Longer if Markets Keep Fighting Central Banks, ECB’s Wunsch Explains. The Fed Has Same Problem

by Wolf Richter • Nov 22, 2023 • 199 Comments

“If the markets don’t infer from this that it’ll be high for longer, we’ll have to use our rate instruments and hike to get where we want to go.”

Home Sales Collapse, Prices Drop Further, Supply Jumps. People Are Finally on Buyers’ Strike

by Wolf Richter • Nov 21, 2023 • 156 Comments

Supply is coming back, demand is not. Prices are still way too high.

Rents in Canada Explode. Services Inflation Heats Up

by Wolf Richter • Nov 21, 2023 • 97 Comments

Plunging gasoline prices and dropping prices in a few other categories hold down overall CPI. A mess for the Bank of Canada.

“Leading Economic Index” Predicts Recession for Early 2024, after Having Predicted a Recession for Late 2022, Early 2023, Mid-2023, and Late 2023

by Wolf Richter • Nov 20, 2023 • 157 Comments

And there’s Still No Recession!

Our Wall Street Crybabies Want the Fed to Stop QT, they Wag the Drop in Overnight RRPs that’ll Blow up the Banks or Whatever

by Wolf Richter • Nov 19, 2023 • 121 Comments

This crybaby stuff is just funny. So let’s have a look.

THANK YOU 💖 for Your Wonderful Support of WOLF STREET!! If You Missed it this Week, a Reminder: Please Donate

by Wolf Richter • Nov 17, 2023 • 23 Comments

Your support keeps WOLF STREET open to all, and not locked up behind a paywall. I immensely appreciate every donation.

The Collapse of EV-Charger SPACs: ChargePoint CEO Sacked, CFO out, Revenues Plunge, Losses Mount, Shares -96% from Peak. EVgo Not Far Behind

by Wolf Richter • Nov 17, 2023 • 131 Comments

With EV charging, America is divided into two parts: Tesla’s network and everything else.

Walmart: Consumers No Longer Willing to Pay Whatever. Prices of Goods Fall Broadly, as Inflation Shifted to Services

by Wolf Richter • Nov 16, 2023 • 162 Comments

Food is the exception and pricing levels “continue to be a concern”: Walmart CEO. Sky-high food prices rose further.

The Most Splendid Housing Bubbles in Canada: Prices Drop to where They’d Been 2 Years Ago, Sales Swoon, Supply Rises

by Wolf Richter • Nov 15, 2023 • 72 Comments

From peak in March 2022, prices fell 15.6%, in Toronto 17.2%. But Calgary reached a new high (still waiting for the memo?).

Surging “Mortgage Demand” and “Declining Spending,” Really? Let’s Have a Look at Reality

by Wolf Richter • Nov 15, 2023 • 88 Comments

Home buyers “seize a dip in rates” and rush into the housing market, LOL?

Beneath the Skin of CPI Inflation

by Wolf Richter • Nov 14, 2023 • 123 Comments

Energy plunges, durable goods drop, food ticks up from sky-high levels, but meat re-surges, services are hot, rents accelerate, auto insurance spikes.