U.S. first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth reached 3.2 percent, according to the initial report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) last Friday. That estimate is subject to further revisions on 30 May. Of note are the following factors:
GDP growth came in far higher than pre-report expectations. GDP growth tends to be slower in the first quarter than in the other three quarters of the year, averaging 1.7 percent since 2010 versus 2.5 percent, respectively. Trade was the largest contributor to GDP growth despite the economic uncertainty on several fronts (e.g., USMCA, China, etc.).
The trade aspect of the recent GDP report will undoubtedly be discussed extensively in the media (and on Twitter) given Preside...
What You Need to Know Today: Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured reelection on Sunday, defeating right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro despite trailing in the first round of voting. The surprise victory triggered a sharp selloff in Brazilian financial market...
The 2026 midterm elections are a week from tomorrow, but early voting has been taking place for weeks. At stake is control of Congress, including the House of Representatives, where all 435 seats are contested, and the Senate, where approximately one-third of the seats are up for election. Farm...
Key Takeaways: Total U.S. crop acres (excluding hay) are forecast to expand fractionally this year due to greater oilseed crop and winter wheat plantings. One of the key drivers of this year’s crop outlook is input costs, and crops with a lower cost profile have an advantage in producers...
