February 11, 2025 United States: US Small-Business Optimism Retreats From Highest Since 2018   US small-business optimism declined in January from a more than six-year high and a gauge of uncertainty climbed as companies weighed Trump administration policies and the Federal Reserve’s pause on interest-rate cuts.   The National Federation of Independent Business optimism index fell 2.3

February 10, 2025 United States: Dollar, Gold Rise After Trump’s Latest Trade Salvo   The dollar strengthened and gold hit a record high as President Donald Trump’s plan for steel and aluminium import tariffs brought fresh disruption to markets. US stock futures signalled a rebound from Friday’s slump.   The yen and the Canadian dollar

February 7, 2025 United States: US Job Growth Slowed in January After 2024 Downward Revision   US job growth moderated in January after annual revisions from the government revealed less vigor in the labour market last year than previously thought.   Nonfarm payrolls increased by 143,000 last month after a revised 307,000 gain in December,

February 6, 2025 United States: US Initial Jobless Claims Pick Up, Still Near Pre-Covid Levels   Initial applications for US unemployment benefits picked up last week but remained relatively subdued.   New claims increased by 11,000 to 219,000 in the week ended Feb. 1. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for 213,000

February 5, 2025 United States: US Firms Add 183,000 Jobs in ADP Data, More Than Forecast   Employment at US companies picked up in January by more than forecast, highlighting resilient job growth despite mounting uncertainty.   Private payrolls rose by 183,000 last month following a upwardly revised 176,000 increase in December, according to ADP