Hiring Report Telling You Be of Good Cheer

U.S. Review

Hiring Report Telling You Be of Good Cheer

• The latest hiring data are an encouraging sign that the U.S. economy is withstanding the global slowdown and continued trade-related uncertainty. Solid labor market conditions echo the Fed’s assessment that the current stance of monetary policy remains appropriate. The FOMC will be on hold next week.
• Despite encouraging signals from the labor market, the trade war remains a headwind. Murmurs of a possible “Phase I” trade deal flooded news headlines this week, but continue to be void of details. Trade uncertainty continues to weigh on manufacturing and has permeated into the service sector, though not nearly to the same extent.

Global Review

Are We There Yet?

• While the global bias remains towards easier monetary policy, there are some hints we may be getting closer to the end of this global easing cycle. Among the several announcements this past week, central banks in Australia, Canada, India and Chile all held rates steady, while Canada and Chile also hinted at rates remaining on hold for the foreseeable future.
• The news from the Eurozone was mixed this week. The Q3 GDP details showed a reasonably solid domestic economy as underlying final domestic demand rose 0.4% quarter-overquarter, but Eurozone retail sales and German industrial output both registered large declines in October.

Download the full report