Wells Fargo Economics
U.S. Payrolls Rise 130,000 in January as Unemployment Falls to 4.3%
Wells Fargo Economics says stronger hiring and steady 3.7 percent wage growth bolster case for Federal Reserve to hold rates steady A year...
Q4 Employment Cost Index Rises 3.4%, Marking Slowest Compensation Growth Since 2021
Wells Fargo Economics says labor costs remain in a “Goldilocks zone” as wage pressures ease and benefit growth moderates As policymakers weigh the...
December Retail Sales Stall at 0% as Holiday Gains Reach 3.6%
Control group sales slip 0.1 percent in December, but economists maintain outlook for sustained consumer spending into 2026 As retailers closed the books...
Small Business Optimism Slips in January as Hiring Plans Ease, Sales Outlook Hits 2025 High
Wells Fargo Economics says labor market remains in “a state of malaise” despite firmer revenue expectations Business sentiment often shifts before hard economic...
Data Center Sales Push U.S. CRE Transactions to Highest Level Since 2022
Wells Fargo Economics points to falling rates and a single outsized deal as key drivers behind a $186B fourth-quarter rebound After two years...
Labor Market Shows Persistent Weakness as Job Openings Slide to Lowest Level Since 2021
Hiring remains sluggish while layoff warnings mount, raising concerns about employment stability The American labor market continues to show signs of strain as...
U.S. Home Prices Rise 0.4% in November as Regional Gaps Continue to Widen
Wells Fargo Economics points to modest but durable appreciation amid supply limits and affordability pressure After a period of cooling that stretched through...
January Hiring Seen at 80,000 as Labor Market Shows Signs of Gradual Cooling
Wells Fargo Economics expects steady unemployment, softer wage pressure, and downward revisions to 2025 job growth After several years in which the labor...
U.S. Population Growth Slows to 0.5% in 2025 as Net Immigration Drops 54% to 1.3MM
Wells Fargo Economics says reduced foreign inflows, not domestic moves, drove the nationwide deceleration After several years in which migration reshaped regional economies,...
Construction Spending Flat Since August as Private Outlays Fall 1.9% and Data Centers Rise 19%
Wells Fargo Economics says September-October saw a 0.1 percent dip overall, with public works up 2.1 percent year over year and single-family housing...
U.S. Home Builders Enter 2026 With Sentiment Slipping as Demand Falters
NAHB index falls to 37 in January as 65 percent of builders rely on incentives despite easing mortgage rates The U.S. housing market...
Small Business Optimism Climbs to 99.5 as Economic Uncertainty Falls to Seven-Month Low
Policy clarity and monetary easing drive nine-point jump in near-term outlook despite persistent labor challenges American small business owners closed out 2025 with...
