Submit comment or question
Note: All comments are displayed with user's screen name. If screen name is not present, user's full name will be used. Please go to My Account to update your screen name.
Comment Policy: Urner Barry has made the comment feature available to encourage further discussion of our news stories. Defamatory or offensive comments, or comments deemed not relevant to the story will be removed, and if necessary, Urner Barry may restrict the right of individual subscribers to offer comments. In all cases, comments represent opinions of the poster only, and do not represent fact, news, opinions or estimates put forward by Urner Barry.
Email Address is required. Password is required.
NRF Economist Says Labor Market and Interest Rates Will Play Major Roles in 2024
After a better-than-expected performance in 2023, what happens with the economy in 2024 could depend largely on the labor market and what the Federal Reserve does with interest rates, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said today.
“Federal Reserve officials have tough policy choices ahead as they decide on what to do and when,” Kleinhenz said. “There is still a risk that keeping rates too high could curb the economy’s momentum more than necessary. Yet if they lower rates too soon...
Oil Up 2% Ahead of Fed Meet as Middle East Conflict Rages
Oil prices rose more than 2% on Wednesday ahead of the keenly watched meeting of the U.S. central bank for clues on interest rate policy, while the conflict in the Middle East remains in focus.
Brent January crude futures were up about 2.5%, or $2.08, to $87.10 a barrel by 1316 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained roughly 2.8%, or $2.24, to $83.26 a barrel.
The Fed, which will end its meeting on Wednesday, is widely expected to hold rates steady...
Shoppers See Lower Inflation on the Horizon
Consumers expect inflation to stay high over coming months but decline in the years ahead to levels closer to those seen before the pandemic, according to recent surveys likely to be welcomed by the Federal Reserve.
If shoppers keep thinking inflation will fall, that will help cause it to do so, Fed officials believe. This could mean that the central bank wouldn't have to raise interest rates as high as otherwise to slow price increases.
Fed officials are monitoring expectations, among many economic factors, as they weigh how much they need to raise
FEATURED STORIES
ANALYSIS: Turkey Headcount Slips to Record Low
ANALYSIS: Tightening Turkey Production Trends
ANALYSIS: Export Volume Challenges for Mexican Beef End Cuts
ANALYSIS: Dollar to Peso Currency Conversion Impact on the U.S. Pork Bone-In Ham Market
Urner Barry Presents Historic Awards to Industry Professionals at Executive Conference