U.S. Economic News
April 19, 2018
U.S. Economic Indicators
Initial jobless claims fell 1,000 to 232,000 last week. The four-week moving average rose 1,250 to 231,250. DOL Report
U.S. News
The Wall Street Journal reports that New York Fed President William Dudley warned yesterday that the U.S. cannot win a trade war. Dudley also said that trade frictions were contributing to a more uncertain economic outlook, making it more difficult for the FOMC to achieve its dual mandate of stable prices and maximum employment. WSJ
Sharon Nunn of the Wall Street Journal writes that a new report from the Federal Reserve shows that businesses across the U.S. are facing higher steel prices due to recent tariffs on steel. Some firms reported that prices for specialized steel products produced only in China have increased over 100%, while other firms report that they plan to pass on roughly half of their higher costs to consumers. WSJ