Wells Fargo Economics
Construction Spending Flat Since August as Private Outlays Fall 1.9% and Data Centers Rise 19%
Wells Fargo Economics says September-October saw a 0.1 percent dip overall, with public works up 2.1 percent year over year and single-family housing...
U.S. Home Builders Enter 2026 With Sentiment Slipping as Demand Falters
NAHB index falls to 37 in January as 65 percent of builders rely on incentives despite easing mortgage rates The U.S. housing market...
Small Business Optimism Climbs to 99.5 as Economic Uncertainty Falls to Seven-Month Low
Policy clarity and monetary easing drive nine-point jump in near-term outlook despite persistent labor challenges American small business owners closed out 2025 with...
Trump Administration Unveils Housing Market Interventions to Address Affordability Crisis
New policies target institutional investors and mortgage rates, though implementation details remain sparse The Trump administration launched two major housing policy initiatives this...
Labor Market Treads Water as Job Growth Stalls in Final Month of 2025
December payrolls rose just 50,000 while unemployment edged down to 4.4 percent, leaving Fed likely on hold for January meeting The U.S. labor...
U.S. Housing Construction Starts Slide 4.2% to a 1.25MM Pace as Builders Pull Back
Elevated inventories, affordability pressures and uneven demand keep residential construction subdued After several years in which housing construction helped buffer the economy against...
Consumer Prices Expected to Rise 0.35% in December After Data Collection Issues
Wells Fargo forecasts 2.7 percent year-over-year headline inflation, down from September peak despite monthly rebound The longest government shutdown in U.S. history created...
Manufacturing Sector Closes 2025 With 10th Consecutive Month of Contraction, ISM Index at 47.8
Employment gauge shows modest improvement despite persistent weakness in new orders and production activity The disconnect between America’s booming overall economy and its...
Labor Market Treads Water as Job Openings Fall to 7.1 Million
The U.S. labor market showed continued signs of cooling in November, with job openings declining and workers increasingly reluctant to leave their positions,...
U.S. Existing Home Sales Edge Up 0.5 percent in November to 4.13MM Units
Third consecutive monthly gain reflects lower mortgage rates and improved supply conditions The housing market’s gradual recovery continues as buyers respond to more...
U.S. Job Openings Rise to 7.67MM While Worker Confidence Slips
September JOLTS shows 1.01 openings-to-unemployed ratio as October quits fall to 1.8 percent The U.S. labor market is sending conflicting signals about its...
Small Business Optimism Rises to 99 in November as Sales Expectations Strengthen
NFIB survey shows stronger holiday sales outlook and higher hiring plans, even as price increases and uncertainty remain elevated Small business owners are...
