Economy

The National Retail Federation is predicting holiday retail sales will rise six to eight percent this year compared with 2021, with total sales expected to land between $942.6 billion and $960.4 billion. Despite persistent inflation, sales should top 4.9 percent in November and December, the average year-over-year increase in Christmas …

For the second time in three months, manufacturing in the Inland Empire has hit a bump in the road. The region’s purchasing managers index in October was 49.6, just under the 50 baseline that determines growth or reduction, according to data released this week by the Institute of Applied Research …

The Inland Empire posted a 3.9 percent unemployment rate in September, down from 4.3 percent in August and well below the 6.4 percent predicted one year earlier. That number was not adjusted to account for seasonal factors that affect the job market, according to the State Employment Development Department. In …

The Inland Empire industrial market turned in a solid third quarter, with little vacancy and a big jump in leased space. Total vacancy at the end of the quarter was 1.3 percent, unchanged from the second quarter, Avison Young reported. At the same time, leasing of industrial space in Riverside …

Sales will still grow, but that increase will be lower than last year, mostly because of inflation. Online sales will continue to rise.   One year ago, Deloitte, the global accounting and professional services firm, was predicting that retail sales during the holiday shopping season would rise seven to nine …

The U.S. will probably avoid a recession during the next two years, so long as the Federal Reserve doesn’t raise interest rates more than it has said it plans to, according to a forecast. Despite some signs of weakness, the U.S. economy continues to move forward thanks to the fiscal …