Rebecca Tolland
Rebecca Tolland writes for Macra Digest and other Independent Journal publications, covering economic data and Treasury markets and the Federal Reserve and central banks. Reporting under this byline is prepared by the Independent Journal editorial desk from primary sources, with AI assistance, and reviewed under our editorial policy.
9 articles
Leading economic indicators explained: what they signal
What leading economic indicators are, the ten components of the Conference Board index, how coincident and lagging gauges differ, and how to read their signals.
Economic Data Today: U.S. Trade Deficit Widens to $105.6B
The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services rose to $105.6 billion in August from $92.8 billion in July as imports grew more than exports, Census data show.
Jobs report and CPI release headline latest economic data
Payrolls rose 29,000 and unemployment held at 4.2% in September, while August factory orders edged up 0.1% and construction spending gained 0.9%.
How the jobs report works: payrolls and unemployment
How the monthly jobs report is built: the employer payroll survey, the household survey, who counts as unemployed, why figures are revised and how to read both.
Economic Data Today: August Housing Starts Fall 2.6% to 1.275M
Housing starts fell 2.6% in August to a 1,275,000 annual rate while single-family starts rose 7.6% and building permits slipped 2.7%, Census Bureau data show.
GDP Report Input: Q2 Services Revenue Rises 3.0% to $6.4T
The Census Bureau's Quarterly Services Survey shows selected services revenue of $6,418.7 billion in Q2 2026, up 3.0% from Q1 and 7.6% from a year earlier.
Economic calendar: key US data releases explained
A plain-English guide to the economic calendar: which agencies publish US data, how release schedules work, and how to read each entry before the numbers land.
Economic calendar: Q2 employment cost index rises 0.9%
The BLS Employment Cost Index released July 31, 2026 showed civilian compensation up 0.9% in Q2 and 3.4% over 12 months, with real private wages down 0.4%.
Economic calendar: May PPI final demand jumps 1.1% on energy
BLS producer price data released June 11, 2026 showed final demand prices up 1.1% in May and 6.5% over 12 months, driven by a 10.7% surge in energy prices.