U.S. Economic News
May 14, 2019
U.S. Economic Indicators
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.7 points to 103.5 in April as nine components rose and one was unchanged. Expectations for current job openings increased, as did expectations for the economy to improve. NFIB Report
U.S. News
The Financial Times reports that China has disputed U.S. accusations that it reneged on trade commitments, stating that the attempt to force China to purchase more U.S. goods led to the breakdown in negotiations. Beijing has ramped up nationalist rhetoric on official media to increase domestic support for a prolonged conflict with Washington. FT
According to the Wall Street Journal, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston president Eric Rosengren warned Monday that it is too soon to know how the accelerating trade war between the U.S. and China will affect the global economy. He stated that given the uncertainty surrounding global growth and the U.S. economic outlook, it is best for the Fed to continue to hold interest rates steady. WSJ