CCA tracks the following 14 economic datapoints, which are some of the common indicators used to monitor the status of the macro economy. A few key takeaways that CCA is monitoring this winter are:
The Fed Remains Committed to Keeping Interest Rates Steady to Improve Inflation
- The Fed has maintained their position that rates will remain higher for longer, although they are not going to raise rates any higher.
- Inflation continues to run above the Fed’s target rate of 2.0%, one of the key indicators keeping the Fed from cutting rates.
The Job Market Continues to Remain Robust
- The unemployment rate held strong to close out the year, remaining at 3.7% in December after economists predicted it would increase to 3.8%.
- Nonfarm payrolls increased by 353,000 in January, beating expectations of 185,000 jobs.
The Strength of the Consumer Keeps the Economy Resilient
- The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index value for December was 78.8, the highest index value in more than two years.
- Consumer spending and retail sales beat economist expectations in December, showing that consumers remain willing to spend despite fears of a recession.
About Chesapeake Corporate Advisors
Chesapeake Corporate Advisors is a boutique investment banking and corporate advisory firm providing strategic advisory services (value creation) and investment banking services (value realization) to companies with revenues between $10 million and $200 million. For more information, visit www.ccabalt.com or call 410.537.5988.
