Housing starts fall in December despite sharp drop in mortgage rates
Housing starts fell in December for the first time in four months, even as a drop in mortgage rates spurred a burst of optimism in the housing market.
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Housing starts fell in December for the first time in four months, even as a drop in mortgage rates spurred a burst of optimism in the housing market.
Retail sales increased 0.6% for the month, buoyed by a pickup in clothing and accessory stores as well as online nonstore businesses.
Oil prices rise post U.S. and Britain strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen; tanker diversions observed. U.S. Treasury yields ease with unexpected December fall in producer prices.
The Producer Price Index fell lower than expected in December causing some analysts to forecast a dip in consumer prices ahead.
Wall Street stocks dipped in early trading as US earnings season unofficially began. Major US. bank fourth-quarter profits fell, and an S&P 500 bank index was down 0.9%.