Brian Bethune
Brian Bethune
farmers fish gets lost price producers production profits recover seafood shrimp
The only consolation to farmers is that the price of seafood will go up further. So when production gets back on track, fish and shrimp producers can use the profits to recover their lost costs.
business continued corporate generally good help leads profits rebound saw signal
We saw a big rebound in corporate profits and that's a good signal for continued business investment. That generally leads to hiring, which will help keep consumption going.
bonds demand funds insurance pension reports solid underlying
There are reports of solid underlying demand for 30-year bonds from pension funds and insurance companies.
cooling federal gradual housing market news welcome
The gradual cooling off of the housing market will be welcome news at the Federal Reserve.
continued core drop energy federal inflation level months next painful pressure price record relief reserve several spells top vigilant welcome
While the record drop in the top level index spells welcome relief from the painful post-hurricane energy price spikes in September, continued pressure on the core index over the next several months will keep the Federal Reserve vigilant on the inflation watch.
looks road tells terms
What this tells us in terms of the fundamentals is the road looks fine.
activity gains job normal overall solid start terms
We'll have very solid overall job gains that will punctuate the start of more normal activity in terms of employment,
ease maybe might pain praying warm winter
Maybe we should all be praying for a warm winter because that might ease the pain.
auctions debt demand needs satisfy side supply unusual
New auctions will satisfy an unusual coincidence of needs on the supply and demand side of the fixed-income debt markets.
business certainly consumer drivers four growth investment last principal
Business investment is going to be one of the principal drivers of growth in 2006. The consumer will still be there ... (but) certainly won't be as ebullient as the last four years.
continue expected housing january mortgage pop purchase sales suggesting track
Mortgage purchase applications continue to track downwards, suggesting that most of the expected pop in housing sales in January was weather-related.
europe gaining growth japan provide
Recoveries in Europe and Japan are gaining momentum. This should provide the underpinnings for respectable growth in exports.
gust wind
That was a gust of wind in the spinnaker.
business capacity gaining heading justifies level second strength
Manufacturing is gaining strength heading into the second quarter. We have a level of capacity use that justifies more business investment.