Joseph Abate

The claims data are telling us that the labor market is continuing to improve and growing at a rate of read more

The claims data are telling us that the labor market is continuing to improve and growing at a rate of about 200,000 jobs a month.

On net, we'll see some damage and a hit to corporate profits and proprietors' income, but that effect is temporary. read more

On net, we'll see some damage and a hit to corporate profits and proprietors' income, but that effect is temporary. But in the next quarter, we will get some mild stimulus from the rebuilding. Certainly, it will have no major, permanent effect on the economy.

With corporate balance sheets and cash flow strong, we look for investment spending to remain strong, pushing up growth in read more

With corporate balance sheets and cash flow strong, we look for investment spending to remain strong, pushing up growth in the capital stock and adding to labor productivity growth in 2006.

Warm weather and a post-December rebound in new activity will likely boost construction payrolls. Retail employment should also enjoy a read more

Warm weather and a post-December rebound in new activity will likely boost construction payrolls. Retail employment should also enjoy a post-holiday boost.

Further improvement in earnings and additional declines in the unemployment rate is likely to boost overall confidence and keep consumption read more

Further improvement in earnings and additional declines in the unemployment rate is likely to boost overall confidence and keep consumption strong.