Recently the private company that produces the latest data on manufacturing specially, called the PMI report, stated that the number for December moved up from 52.2 to 52.4. Any number over 50 suggests expansion. The official report, called the ISM manufacturing index, for December came in at 47.2% down from 48.1%. Another report on construction […]
Even after some pretty significant events concerning Iran the U.S. stock market shrugged off the tension. It helps that President Trump seems to be playing down the confrontation by being cautious with his response. It also helps that our economy appears to be bouncing back from weakness seen in the summer months extending into the […]
The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index was reported this week and it rose 2.2%. This is for October which is the most updated information. That 2% figure is year-over-year. From September to October it was up only .1%. At the national level, prices on an annual basis came in at 3.3%. Phoenix had […]
The rules of withdrawal surrounding the Inherited IRA have been changed starting in 2020. If you are not a spouse or child of an inherited IRA, you only have one choice on how to withdrawal the money. You must take all of it out within 10 years from the date of inheritance. Before you had […]
A very disappointing number for Durable goods sales for November and a strong revision downward for October made for some concerns for the economy. The top line number sank 2% and the revision went from a rise of .5% to a rise of .2% in October. However, it is not as dire as at first […]
Yesterday the Housing Starts Report for November came in at a strong 1.365 million annual rate; but more importantly building permits, which is a gauge of future strength or weakness, came in at 1.482 million. It appears the housing market remains strong and with a shortage of homes to buy 2020 should see a good […]
The third quarter productivity number was revised yesterday. Productivity is important as that goes directly to our standard of living. The more productive people are, generally, the lower cost of products and services. The number is shrinking down .2%, and little better than the first reading when it was down .3%. What we want is […]
Every day political and economic news events are reported, annualized and then reflected in the stock market. Stock prices are either pushed up or down daily based on what investors and traders ‘think’, and almost all of the day-to-day movement is emotionally driven. This week is a prime example. President Trump mentioned the China trade […]
This report is released every month and is divided into two parts, manufacturing and non-manufacturing. Non-manufacturing is frequently referred to as the service sector of our economy. We are a service sector dominate economy. On Monday, the manufacturing sector for November came in with a reading of 48.1%, falling for the fourth month in a […]
Happy Thanksgiving Here at KPP Financial we can get very focused on investments, economics and growing our clients’ money. That is our job and we love doing it. However, we all need to take a time out and focus on family. Thanksgiving is the perfect time. Even though I and my wife were not blessed […]