Vince Golle

US employment growth exceeded forecasts while the jobless rate ticked higher in September, illustrating a tenuous labor market that is unnerving American consumers.

US consumer durables and personal goods inflation decelerated in October for the first time in three months, reflecting a slight pickup in the degree of merchant discounting, according to OpenBrand price data.

Bank of England officials held interest rates steady this week in a narrow vote while keeping the door open to a December cut that will hinge on inflation and employment data as well as the government’s autumn budget.

Central bankers in North America’s two largest economies lowered borrowing costs this week, though yields on government debt climbed after the heads of US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada damped expectations for further reductions by year-end.

A delayed snapshot of US inflation in September came in softer than expected, potentially offering a path for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates beyond next week’s meeting.

Gold and silver continued to rally this week, despite a Friday tumble, amid renewed trade tensions between the world’s top economies.

French financial markets had mostly recovered from a political dustup earlier this week when Sebastien Lecornu stepped down as prime minister, before being reappointed late Friday.

A quickening of inflation across Europe’s largest economies in September reinforced a holding pattern for interest rates by the European Central Bank.

US mortgage rates rose for the first time in five weeks, thwarting a budding recovery in housing demand and abruptly halting a recent flurry of home refinancing.

US personal spending last month topped forecasts, illustrating consumers are generating momentum for the world’s largest economy and so far undaunted by stubborn inflation and high interest rates.