EconoTicker

U.S. Building Permits rose to 1.482 million in March, exceeding the forecast of 1.450 million and up from the previous 1.459 million. The data suggests continued resilience in the housing sector despite broader economic uncertainties.

In February, U.S. business inventories rose by 0.2%, slightly below the 0.3% increase seen in the prior month and expected by analysts. Retail inventories excluding autos edged up 0.1%, maintaining the same pace as January but showing a slowdown from previous months. Meanwhile, the NAHB Housing Market Index improved to 40 in April from 38, signaling a modest recovery in builder sentiment, though the sector remains under pressure due to high interest rates and affordability concerns.

U.S. industrial production declined by 0.3% in March, missing expectations of a 0.2% drop and reversing February’s 0.8% gain. On a yearly basis, industrial output rose by 1.34%, indicating modest growth despite recent monthly weakness. Manufacturing production increased by 0.3% in line with forecasts, suggesting underlying resilience in factory activity. However, capacity utilization slipped to 77.8%, slightly below the expected 78.0% and February’s 78.2%, pointing to a slight softening in overall production efficiency.

U.S. retail sales rose 1.4% MoM in March, beating forecasts and up sharply from February’s 0.2%.

• Core Retail Sales: +0.5% (vs 0.4% expected)
• Retail Control: +0.4% (below 0.6% forecast)
• Ex-Gas/Autos: +0.8%
• YoY Growth: +4.6% (up from 3.54%)

The data shows strong consumer demand, reducing pressure on the Fed to cut rates soon.

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) reported Q1 2025 earnings of $1.88 per share, just above the expected $1.87. Revenue reached $1.43 billion, topping the forecast of $1.38 billion. The company’s total assets stood at $73.3 billion, highlighting steady growth in the brokerage sector.

The Redbook YoY retail sales index came in at 6.6%, down from the previous 7.2%. This suggests a modest deceleration in same-store retail sales growth across major U.S. retailers.

While the reading still indicates solid consumer spending, the cooling pace may reflect early signs of softening demand, potentially influenced by persistent inflation, high interest rates, or cautious consumer sentiment. Markets may watch upcoming retail sales data closely for confirmation of a broader trend.

The New York Empire State Manufacturing Index improved to -8.1 in April, beating expectations of -12.8 and significantly higher than March’s -20.0. While the index remains in negative territory—indicating continued contraction in manufacturing activity—the rebound suggests a moderation in pessimism among New York manufacturers. Key subcomponents like new orders and shipments likely saw less severe declines, offering a glimmer of hope for stabilization in the sector.

The U.S. Export Price Index was flat in March (0.0% MoM), missing expectations of a 0.1% increase and down from February’s 0.5%. On a yearly basis, export prices rose 2.4%, slightly above the prior 2.1%. Meanwhile, Import Price Index data showed a 0.1% decline MoM, underperforming the forecast of a 0.1% rise and reversing from February’s 0.2% gain. Year-over-year, import prices increased 0.9%, down from the previous 2.0%, indicating softer cost pressures. These figures suggest easing trade-related inflation, potentially giving the Federal Reserve more flexibility in its rate path.

Bank of America (BAC) reported Q1 2025 earnings of $0.90 per share, exceeding the estimated $0.82. Revenue reached $27.4 billion, slightly above the expected $26.99 billion. The bank’s total assets stood at $279.33 billion, reinforcing its solid position among major U.S. financial institutions.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) posted Q1 2025 earnings of $2.77 per share, topping analyst expectations of $2.64. Revenue came in at $21.89 billion, slightly above the projected $21.64 billion. The company’s total assets stood at $371.98 billion, reflecting its strong financial health and steady performance in the healthcare sector.

Goldman Sachs (GS) reported impressive Q1 2025 earnings of $14.12 per share, well above the expected $12.31. Revenue came in at $15.06 billion, slightly ahead of the $14.98 billion forecast. The firm’s total assets reached $163.84 billion, underlining its solid position in the investment banking sector.

The Bank of New York Mellon (BK) reported Q1 2025 earnings of $1.58 per share, surpassing the expected $1.51. Revenue for the quarter was $4.79 billion, slightly above the forecasted $4.76 billion. The bank’s total assets stood at $55 billion, reflecting its continued stability and growth.