VCR News and Press, Vanguard Consumer Discretion From 06/17/21

alicat/E+ via Getty Images The Federal Reserve has kept rates near zero in its latest FOMC statement and continues to purchase assets at their current rate. However, Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday indicated that they expect two interest rate increases by the end of 2023. Before Wednes...

Retail sales and food-services spending fell 1.3% in May following gains in three of the prior four months. Core retail sales, which exclude motor vehicle dealers and gasoline retailers, posted an 0.8% decline for the month, leaving that measure with a 23.8% gain vs. a year ago. F...

At first glance, May’s retail sales report, like April’s, looks like a big miss, as sales declined -1.3% nominally, and after adjusting for inflation, declined -2.0%. Retail sales are 18% higher than they were in February 2020. Vaccine-driven economic recovery, subdu...

During the pandemic lockdown in the first half of 2020, only three S&P 500 sectors saw positive earnings and revenue growth for Q1 and Q2 ’20. In Q1 ’21, Technology has grown EPS and revenue 53% and 21%, respectively. Once Q2 ’21 earnings start in mid-July...

The US recovery is gaining momentum as the country reopens parts of its economy — boosted by government stimulus and vaccine rollouts. The impact of the global pandemic opened up new opportunities for equity investors. While growth stocks outperformed over much of the last ...

HIX is heavily invested in various fixed-income securities, which could come under pressure in a period of higher inflation or rising interest rates. HIX has been able to weather the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic exceptionally well over the last year. The fund offers a month...

According to PYMNTS’ latest national consumer study fielded earlier in May, which surveyed a representative sample of roughly 2,300 adults, 17% of all consumers reported using digital platforms such as Instacart to order and pay for groceries instead of going to the grocery store t...

In both the April CPI and PPI reports, the Bureau of Labor Statistics seemed to be using language like “largest increase/advance since…” on multiple occasions. Following the inflation fireworks, the markets received two different reports that are directly related ...

At first glance, April’s retail sales report looks like another Big Miss. The big jump in March didn’t get taken back. A gain of another 4 to 6 million jobs, to close to the pre-pandemic peak, is quite possible. For further details see: April Retail Sales '...

The rotation from growth to value is accelerating. The combination of higher inflation, lower US dollar, and higher yields could be lethal for momentum stocks. The Fed is way behind the curve, but we believe that Jay Powell will be forced to acknowledge reality soon. Meanwhile...