Commentary

WWU Center for Economic and Business Research️ 17 hours ago

Taking to the air this week? The FAA expects this will be the busiest Thanksgiving week in a decade and a half. Adding to the uncertainty is the fact that there's still no timeline to fix the leak shutting down the pipeline that delivers fuel to Sea-Tac Airport. https://buff.ly/IBkZYI4

WWU Center for Economic and Business Research️ 19 hours ago

Europe and the U.S. reached a broad trade agreement months ago, but they’re still haggling over the details. American officials are visiting Brussels this week and hope to finalize a written deal. https://buff.ly/KawkJ57

WWU Center for Economic and Business Research️ 19 hours ago

DOGE disbands. The White House’s government cost-cutting initiative, initially led by Elon Musk, “doesn’t exist,” a Trump administration official told Reuters. Despite Musk’s claims that initiative cut billions of dollars in spending, its true impact could be hard to assess as the group did not provide detailed accounting. https://buff.ly/dVTN7kY

WWU Center for Economic and Business Research️ 21 hours ago

Business investment in AI might have accounted for as much as half of the growth in GDP in the first six months of the year, while rising AI stocks are also boosting household wealth and consumer spending. An already weakened economy raises the odds of a downturn if stocks and AI spending crash. https://buff.ly/3WEM2G7

WWU Center for Economic and Business Research️ 23 hours ago

We have shared that holiday spending is projected to increase. More dollars, less stuff, lower profits. Retailers are looking for a holiday miracle as the American consumer limps into the holiday season. https://buff.ly/5G8EDKk

WWU Center for Economic and Business Research️ 1 day ago

US retail sales growth likely moderated a touch in September, capping an otherwise solid quarter of spending by consumers who are nonetheless frustrated by high prices and anxious about job security. Economists expect a 0.4% increase in sales after the 0.6% gain a month earlier, based on the Bloomberg survey median estimate. Delayed for more than a month by the government shutdown, the Census Bureau is scheduled to issue the figures on Tuesday.