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What wholesale inventory says about goods in our economy

May 30, 2024
Wholesalers supply both retailers and manufacturers.
When wholesale inventories run low, they can suggest robust retail sales.
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Supply chains are tightening again. This time, it looks like a good sign for the economy.

Mar 14, 2024
Early in the pandemic, congested supply chains drove inflation. Now, we’re seeing growth without major disruptions.
Bringing capacity back into the supply chain could indicate a potential boost in GDP, said Dale Rogers of Arizona State.
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Economists expect tapering job growth for December

Jan 4, 2024
November job openings also trended down but were still above pre-pandemic levels.
Job openings continued to trend down in November, just as they’ve been doing for over a year.
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Corporate profits have been trending down. That's what the Federal Reserve wants to see.

Nov 28, 2023
It means interest rate hikes are having the intended effect. Tapering consumer demand and high labor costs are weighing on earnings.
Corporate profits are feeling the effects of high interest rates and labor costs as well as weaker consumer demand.
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Best Buy says electronics demand could pick up again

Aug 31, 2023
Demand for consumer electronics has fallen since the early days of the pandemic. But Best Buy says electronics demand could stabilize in the near future, or even grow.
The CEO of Best Buy said that this year could be a low point for electronics demand. And that next year, demand could slowly start to pick up.
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Why durable goods orders reflect consumer demand

Jun 26, 2023
This week, the Census Bureau will report how many manufactured durable goods businesses ordered in May. Many manufacturers haven't been making as many products, but certain types of equipment are still in high demand.
Orders of computers have been rising lately, as businesses try to boost productivity through investments in tech during a tight labor market.
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As demand shifts, some businesses are weighed down with too much inventory

Feb 8, 2023
Especially those closely tied to the housing market.
Slowing home purchases have left some businesses tied to the housing market — like appliance wholesalers — with a glut of product.
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For public good, not for profit.

Are the latest GDP numbers good news? It depends on how you look at them.

Jan 26, 2023
The economy grew, but not as much as expected. Some parts of the economy are slowing, but not as much as expected.
An increase in business inventories helped boost economic activity last quarter. But whether that's positive or negative depends on whom you ask.
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It's 2023: Does anyone want to buy a car?

Jan 18, 2023
Electric vehicle sales are up, but is demand for cars overall taking a dip?
Used cars are displayed on a sales lot. The demand for vehicles this year will depend on wider economic conditions, analysts say.
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New trade data shows weakening demand

Jan 5, 2023
Imports fell more than exports.
"One of the things I think is a commonality across both imports and exports is a weakening of new orders,” said Eric Freedman at U.S. Bank. 
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