Economy

Stability reigns. The economy has about 7 million more jobs than before COVID hit, and both quits and layoffs are low.

Zillow reported that Denver, San Antonio and Austin were the only metro areas where rents fell.

The company says its 3% sales increase came in part through customers buying bigger packs of things at Costco and other club stores.

Though many households are faltering on credit card and auto loan payments, wealthier Americans are keeping the spending metrics robust.

As the second Trump administration begins, people have kept up their spending — but not all for the same reasons.

In the U.S., it’s partly due to expectations of a stronger, more inflationary future economy with bigger budget deficits.

December sales figures showed spending was strong, but more consumers are using credit cards and buy now, pay later programs to finance purchases.

Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and other prominent names beat earnings forecasts. The Federal Reserve and volatile markets are giving them a boost.

Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group says a volatile Mideast, Russian disruption and a strained U.S.-China relationship could all prove harmful.

The pandemic set the stage for the bankruptcies, although they were delayed by government payouts and PPP loans.